Profiles of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), and Subjective Well-Being in a Sample of Adult Children of Alcoholics

• Published in: Psychological trauma 2024-04, Vol.16 (S1), p.S143-S151
• Main Authors: Rzeszutek, Marcin, Lis-Turlejska, Maja, Pięta, Małgorzata, Van Hoy, Angelika, Zawistowska, Magdalena, Drabarek, Katrarzyna, Kozłowska, Wiktoria, Szyszka, Martyna, Frąc, Dominika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult Offspring; Children of Alcoholics; Complex PTSD; Construct Validity; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual; Female; Human; International Classification of Diseases; Male; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychodiagnosis; Well Being
• ISSN: 1942-9681; 1942-969X
• DOI: 10.1037/tra0001211

Objective: The main aim of this study was to examine the heterogeneity of a sample of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) within the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as well as DSM-5 PTSD diagnoses regarding the participants' subjective well-being (SWB). In addition, the construct validity of the ICD-11 CPTSD was assessed, and the ICD-11 and DSM-5 PTSD diagnoses among participants were compared. Method: The sample consisted of 609 ACOAs. Participants filled out the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5), International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X), and the Children of Alcoholics Screening test (CAST-6). Results: We observed many fewer PTSD cases when we followed the ICD-11 criteria compared to cases of PTSD diagnosed based on DSM-5 criteria among participants. In addition, latent profile analysis (LPA) did not provide evidence of the construct validity of CPTSD. Finally, we found heterogeneity of ACOAs sample in terms of PTSD/CPTSD profiles, which were differently related to their SWB. Conclusions: Further research is needed to establish to what extent CPTSD and PTSD are separate and discrete disorders and why such discrepancy in PTSD level is observed when we follow either DSM-5 or ICD-11. In addition, the person-centered approach may provide more insight than variable-centered methods and thus, undermine the "uniformity myths" about ACOAs. Clinical Impact Statement Growing up in an alcoholic family can have long-lasting psychological costs resulting in multiple emotional, interpersonal, and social problems in adulthood of such persons, known as Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs). Specifically, ACOAs may suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even complex PTSD (CPTSD). At the same time, there are ACOAs who do not experience any psychological disorders and maintain relatively high well-being. Thus, our study undermines the "uniformity myths" about ACOAs and may help to provide new insight for psychological functioning of people with history of alcoholic families.