The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire: Adapting a Cross-Cultural Instrument for Measuring Torture, Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Iraqi Refugees

Abstract

The methodology described proved to be a useful approach to developing a trauma measure that is culturally grounded in a multi-dimensional model of mental health.

“Every time that month comes, I remember”:using cognitive interviews to adapt grief measures for use with bereaved adolescents in South Africa

“…As such, grief scales and other measures predicated on Western norms are likely to lack contextual relevance in different settings. This assertion is consistent with previous research highlighting the importance of cross-cultural adaptation in the measurement of psychological problems including anxiety, trauma and depression (Shoeb, Weinstein, & Mollica, 2007;Sweetland, Bekin, & Verdeli, 2014;Myer et al, 2008).…”

The transmission of trauma in refugee families: associations between intra-family trauma communication style, children’s attachment security and psychosocial adjustment

“…The questionnaire generates a DSM-IV PTSD score, a Self-perception of functioning score and a total score. Each score ranges from 1-4, and the recommended clinical cut-off is ≥ 2.00 (Shoeb, Weinstein, & Mollica, 2007).…”

War-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder prevalence among undergraduate students in Iraq in 2010

“…The new DSM-V took these notes seriously and applied the suggested changes in trauma characteristics for PTSD algorithm calculation 41 . A possible explanation for the low PTSD prevalence might be related to the high population resilience which was also implicated in similar studies in Lebanon 8,34 . A recent study using a different tool (Harvard questionnaire) among high risk samples had reported a much higher PTSD rate (43%) among survivors exposed to suicidal explosions in Kerbala city, 12 and in other cities in in Iraq, 13 and in many other studies in Gaza strip and North Ireland 14,15 .…”

“…One potentially significant social characteristic in these countries concern the extended and large family pattern with strong social support of all family members, relatives and even neighbours for those exposed to trauma. Higher population resilience might be the reasons behind these low rates and could be related to the socio-cultural context in these countries, 8,34,35 however, exploring the exact underlying factors requires further studies. An additional reason behind the low PTSD rate in Iraq might be methodological, related to the stringent significance level used or the high missing symptom answers in this study.…”