Complex posttraumatic stress disorder in Chinese young adults using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ): A latent profile analysis

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2020-04, Vol.267, p.137-143
• Main Authors: Tian, Yuxin, Wu, Xinchun, Wang, Wenchao, Zhang, Di, Yu, Qingyun, Zhao, Xianzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China - epidemiology; Chinese; CPTSD; Humans; International Classification of Diseases; International Trauma Questionnaire; PTSD; Self Report; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.02.017

•The simplified Chinese version of International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) showed good psychometric properties in a large Chinese young adult sample.•Using latent profile analysis, we observed four classes (low symptoms, disturbance of self-organization, PTSD, CPTSD) in our sample, which supports CPTSD as a distinct disorder from PTSD as ICD-11 proposed.•Compared to the PTSD class, the CPTSD class was associated with more serious psychopathology symptoms. The ICD-11 includes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as two distinct disorders. Several empirical studies have supported the distinction between PTSD and CPTSD in various trauma population and different culture backgrounds. However, research documenting qualitatively distinction between PTSD and CPTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) in a large general population from non-English-speaking countries is limited. Self-report measures were used to assess CPTSD, dissociation, depression, and posttraumatic growth in a sample of 1,760 Chinese college students who had experienced at least one traumatic event. Latent profile analysis was utilized to identify the number of classes based on the 18-item version of ITQ. A four-class solution (low symptoms, disturbance of self-organization, PTSD, CPTSD) was the most appropriate one in our study. Compared to the PTSD class, the CPTSD class was associated with more serious psychopathology symptoms. Sample characteristics in this study limit its generalizability to other population (e.g., low educational level, clinical sample). The type of traumatic event in predicting distinct classes should also be investigated in future studies. Distinction between PTSD and CPTSD as ICD-11 proposed was supported in a Chinese young adult sample. DSO symptoms might inhibit healing and recovery process, and subsequent intervention could consider treat CPTSD based on addressing DSO symptoms.