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Mismatch of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and DSM-IV symptom clusters in a cancer sample: exploratory factor analysis of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shelby, RA; Golden-Kreutz, DM; Andersen, BL
Published in: J Trauma Stress
August 2005

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994a) conceptualization of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) includes three symptom clusters: reexperiencing, avoidance/numbing, and arousal. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) corresponds to the DSM-IV PTSD symptoms. In the current study, we conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the PCL-C with two aims: (a) to examine whether the PCL-C evidenced the three-factor solution implied by the DSM-IV symptom clusters, and (b) to identify a factor solution for the PCL-C in a cancer sample. Women (N = 148) with Stage II or III breast cancer completed the PCL-C after completion of cancer treatment. We extracted two-, three-, four-, and five-factor solutions using EFA. Our data did not support the DSM-IV PTSD symptom clusters. Instead, EFA identified a four-factor solution including reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and arousal factors. Four symptom items, which may be confounded with illness and cancer treatment-related symptoms, exhibited poor factor loadings. Using these symptom items in cancer samples may lead to overdiagnosis of PTSD and inflated rates of PTSD symptoms.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

ISSN

0894-9867

Publication Date

August 2005

Volume

18

Issue

4

Start / End Page

347 / 357

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
 

Citation

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Shelby, R. A., Golden-Kreutz, D. M., & Andersen, B. L. (2005). Mismatch of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and DSM-IV symptom clusters in a cancer sample: exploratory factor analysis of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version. J Trauma Stress, 18(4), 347–357. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20033
Shelby, Rebecca A., Deanna M. Golden-Kreutz, and Barbara L. Andersen. “Mismatch of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and DSM-IV symptom clusters in a cancer sample: exploratory factor analysis of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version.J Trauma Stress 18, no. 4 (August 2005): 347–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20033.
Shelby, Rebecca A., et al. “Mismatch of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and DSM-IV symptom clusters in a cancer sample: exploratory factor analysis of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version.J Trauma Stress, vol. 18, no. 4, Aug. 2005, pp. 347–57. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/jts.20033.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

ISSN

0894-9867

Publication Date

August 2005

Volume

18

Issue

4

Start / End Page

347 / 357

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders