Validation of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in foster children using the International Trauma Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: ICD-11 introduces post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as two distinct trauma-related disorders. Using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) as disorder-specific measure, this study is the first to examine the factorial and construct validity of ICD-11 PTSD, CPTSD and the ITQs' applicability in children. METHODS: Two hundred and eight Austrian foster children completed a set of standardized measures. Excluding participants who reported not having experienced any kind of trauma, a final sample of 136 children completed the ITQ. Factorial and construct validity of ICD-11 CPTSD and psychometric properties of ITQ scales were assessed by factor analysis and latent class analysis. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor higher-order model of ICD-11 CPTSD in children by high factor loadings and excellent model fit. Reliability and regression analysis evidenced psychometric adequacy and discriminant validity of ITQ scales. Latent class analysis substantiated construct validity of ICD-11 CPTSD, identifying a CPTSD (22.8%), PTSD (31.6%) and low symptoms class (45.6%). The CPTSD class showed highest rates of childhood trauma, comorbid psychopathology and functional impairment. CONCLUSION: Factorial and construct validity of ICD-11 CPTSD was evidenced in children for the first time using precise descriptions of ICD-11 symptom content, supporting the reliability and validity of the ITQ in children.

Symptom structure of ICD-11 Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) in trauma-exposed foster children: examining the International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent Version (ITQ-CA).

Background: The 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) introduces Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as two distinct trauma-related disorders. Numerous studies support the proposed symptom structure of ICD-11 CPTSD in adults, but only a few studies have examined CPTSD symptom structure in children, reporting diverging results. To assess ICD-11 CPTSD in children, the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) was recently adapted for children and adolescents (ITQ-CA), with no validated German version available yet. Objective: This study aimed (1) to test the symptom structure of ICD-11 CPTSD in a sample of trauma-exposed foster children using the ITQ-CA, and (2) to examine the concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity of the German ITQ-CA. Method: Altogether, 161 Austrian foster children completed a set of standardized measures, resulting in a final sample of 135 trauma-exposed foster children meeting the inclusion criteria. Psychometric properties of the ITQ-CA were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), bivariate correlations and multivariate regression. Results: CFA supported ICD-11 CPTSD symptom structure in children as a two-factor higher-order model with PTSD and Disturbances in Self-Organization (DSO) as correlated factors with very good model fit, while a one-factor higher-order model also fitted the data very well. High factor loadings and excellent levels of internal reliability evidenced the psychometric adequacy of the ITQ-CA. Concurrent and convergent validity were evidenced by high correlations between ITQ-CA scales and criterion variables (PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, dissociation, lifetime traumatization). Discriminant validity was partly supported by PTSD and DSO being differently predicted by exogenous criterion variables. Conclusions: CPTSD symptom structure in children is in support of the ICD-11 conceptualization. The reliability and validity of the German ITQ-CA are evidenced for the first time, identifying it as an easy-to-use screening instrument to assess ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in children. Further implications and areas for upcoming studies are discussed.

Antecedentes: La CIE-11 recientemente publicada presenta el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y el trastorno de estrés postraumático complejo (TEPT-C) como dos trastornos distintos relacionados con trauma. Numerosos estudios apoyaron la estructura de síntomas propuesta de TEPT-C en adultos de la CIE-11, pero solo unos pocos estudios examinaron la estructura de síntomas de TEPT-C en niños, reportando resultados divergentes. Para evaluar TEPT-C en niños según la CIE-11, el Cuestionario Internacional de Trauma (ITQ) fue adaptado recientemente para niños y adolescentes (ITQ-CA), sin una versión alemana validada disponible todavía.Objetivo: El estudio actual se estableció para (1) probar la estructura de síntomas de TEPT-C según la CIE-11 en una muestra de niños de crianza temporal expuestos a traumas utilizando el ITQ-CA y para (2) examinar la validez concurrente, convergente y discriminante de la versión en alemán del ITQ-CA.Método: Ciento sesenta y un niños de crianza temporal austriacos completaron un conjunto de medidas estandarizadas, lo que resultó en una muestra final de 135 niños de crianza temporal expuestos a traumas que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Las propiedades psicométricas del ITQ-CA se evaluaron mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC), correlaciones bivariadas y regresión de objetivos multivariados.Resultados: AFC respaldó la estructura de síntomas de TEPT-C según CIE-11 en niños como modelo de dos factores de orden superior con TEPT y DSO (Perturbaciones en la organización del sí mismo) como factores correlacionados con muy buen ajuste del modelo, mientras que un modelo de un factor de orden superior también se ajustó muy bien a los datos. Las altas cargas factoriales y los excelentes niveles de confiabilidad interna evidenciaron la adecuación psicométrica del ITQ-CA. La validez concurrente y convergente se evidenció por las altas correlaciones entre las escalas ITQ-CA y las variables de criterio (síntomas de TEPT, depresión, ansiedad, disociación, traumatismo de por vida). La validez discriminante fue apoyada en parte por el TEPT y DSO siendo diferenciadamente predicho por variables de criterio exógenas.Conclusiones: La estructura de los síntomas del TEPT-C en los niños respalda la conceptualización de la CIE-11. La confiabilidad y validez de la ITQ-CA alemana se evidencia por primera vez, identificándola como un instrumento de cribado fácil de usar para evaluar el TEPT y TEPT-C de la CIE-11 en niños. Se discuten más implicaciones y áreas para futuros estudios.

Perspective matters: Differences between child- and caregiver-reports of emotion regulation mediating the relationship between cumulative childhood trauma and mental health problems in foster children.

BACKGROUND: Cumulative childhood trauma predicts mental health problems in children, mediated by emotion regulation (ER). To assess trauma history and mental health in children, different informants may be addressed, assessing data from different perspectives. Despite differences between child- and caregiver-reports as robust finding in child psychology, it remains unclear to which extent perspective matters when examining these variables and related associations. OBJECTIVE: The current study was set to (1) examine whether ER mediates the relationship between cumulative childhood trauma and mental health problems in children, (2) test whether results differ with examined perspective, and (3) investigate if meaningful patterns of child-caregiver-reported discrepancies can be identified. METHODS: Data were collected from 145 children living in foster care by child- and caregiver-reports using standardized measures to assess trauma history (CTQ), ER (FEEL-KJ), and mental health problems (CBCL). Mediation and latent profile analysis were calculated. RESULTS: Mediation analysis identified ER as mediator for internalizing and externalizing mental health problems. Using data from different perspectives, mediation models differed considerably regarding significance, direction, and magnitude of effects. Using latent profile analysis, meaningful patterns of child-caregiver-reported discrepancies were identified and associated with children's sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptive and maladaptive ER distinctively mediate the relationship between cumulative childhood trauma and mental health problems in children. Perspective matters when examining these variables and child- and caregiver-reports are not interchangeable. Practitioners and researchers should be aware of inherent limitations when using data from distinct perspectives. Informant discrepancies can carry meaning and should not be ignored, but examined and interpreted instead.