Validation of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) on Patients Injured in Car Accidents

Abstract

Background: The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), is presently the most widely used psychological measure of PTSD along the criteria of DSM-5. We examined the criterion validity of PCL-5 separately for each of its 20 items by comparing scores of patients injured in high impact motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) to scores of persons in a control group. In addition, we evaluated criterion and convergent validity of the PCL-5 total scores.
 Method: De-identified data of 80 post-MVA patients (mean age 38.9 years, SD=12.8) included their scores on the PCL-5, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, Subjective Neuropsychological Symptoms Scale (SNPSS), ratings of depression, anger, and anxiety (Items 10 to 12 of the Whiplash Disability Questionnaire), and three questionnaire measures of driving anxiety (Steiner’s, Whetstone’s, and DAQ). The patients were assessed, on the average, 49.7 weeks (SD=36.3) after their MVA, but all still experienced active post-MVA symptoms requiring therapy.
 The PCL-5 scores were also available from 21 controls (mean age 43.0 years, SD=20.3).
 Results and Discussion: With respect to criterion validity of the PCL-5, the post-MVA patients differed significantly from the control group not only with respect to their total PCL-5 scores, but also on all 20 individual items of the PCL-5, and also on all 4 subscales of PCL-5 (Intrusion, Avoidance, Altered Cognitions/Mood, and Arousal). The PCL-5 total scores correlated significantly to all three measures of post-MVA driving anxiety, post-MVA pain and insomnia, post-MVA depression, anger, and generalized anxiety, and to post-MVA subjective neuropsychological symptoms in the post-concussion and whiplash spectrum.
 Conclusions: Both the criterion and convergent validity of the PCL-5 for the use on post-MVA patients are excellent.

South Korean validation of the COVID-related-PTSD scale in a non-clinical sample exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, based on studies on the use of the PCL-5 in relation to various kinds of traumatic events such as transportation accidents, exposure to war, financial crises, and bereaved experiences, varying factor solutions were yielded. Other studies with individuals who were injured in car and motor vehicle accidents [ 23 , 65 ] and individuals who were exposed to lifetime traumatic events [ 20 – 22 ] found the four-factor model to be the best fit. A South Korean study on PCL-5 with Korean veterans of the Vietnam War supported a one-factor model [ 24 ].…”

Neuropsychological Function in Traumatic Brain Injury and the Influence of Chronic Pain

“…Post concussive symptoms are rated on a five-point Likert type scale. The RPQ has been evaluated for its psychometric properties, with researchers noting excellent test-retest reliability ( r = .84–.87) (Balalla et al, 2020; Cernovsky et al, 2021; King et al, 1995). Moreover, recent research indicates high internal consistency among those with TBI (Cronbach’s α = .97) (Cernovsky et al, 2021).…”

“…The RPQ has been evaluated for its psychometric properties, with researchers noting excellent test-retest reliability ( r = .84–.87) (Balalla et al, 2020; Cernovsky et al, 2021; King et al, 1995). Moreover, recent research indicates high internal consistency among those with TBI (Cronbach’s α = .97) (Cernovsky et al, 2021). In the current sample, RPQ internal consistency estimates were found to be excellent (Cronbach’s α = .96).…”