International Trauma Questionnaire and Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory-9: validity evidence and measurement invariance of their Brazilian versions

Abstract

Background The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is used to measure posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms, and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory-9 (PTCI-9) is used to measure posttraumatic cognitions. Both tools have been translated for use in Brazil. However, the psychometric properties of the Brazilian versions were not investigated, and no study has verified the invariance of these tools for many traumatic event types. Objective This study examined the validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the Brazilian versions of the ITQ and the PTCI-9 for trauma type, gender, race, age group, education level, and geographical region. Methods A total of 2,111 people (67.74% women) participated in an online survey. The scale models were tested via confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance through multigroup analyses. Pearson’s correlation analyses were used to examine the relationships between PTSD, CPTSD, posttraumatic cognitions, and depressive symptoms. Results Except for the affective dysregulation factor, the reliabilities of the ITQ and PTCI-9 dimensions were adequate. Models with six correlated dimensions for the ITQ and three correlated dimensions for the PTCI-9 showed adequate fit to the data. The ITQ and PTCI-9 exhibited scalar invariance for gender, race, age group, education level, and geographical region. The ITQ also demonstrated full invariance for trauma type. The factors of both instruments were related to each other and to depressive symptoms, with higher effect sizes for posttraumatic cognitions and complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Conclusion We recommend using the Brazilian versions of the ITQ and PTCI-9, which are crucial tools for assessing and treating trauma-related disorders.