Applying the PTSD Checklist-Civilian and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 Crosswalk in a Traumatic Brain Injury Sample: A Veterans Affairs Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study

• Published in: Psychological assessment 2024-06, Vol.36 (6-7), p.425-432
• Main Authors: Wyant, Hannah N., Silva, Marc A., Agtarap, Stephanie, Klocksieben, Farina A., Smith, Teagen, Nakase-Richardson, Risa, Miles, Shannon R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - diagnosis; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - psychology; Checklist; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Experience Level; Female; Human; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Military Mental Health; Military Personnel; Military Personnel - psychology; Military Veterans; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Traumatic Brain Injury; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1040-3590; 1939-134X
• DOI: 10.1037/pas0001315

This study evaluates the use of the crosswalk between the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) designed by Moshier et al. (2019) in a sample of service members and veterans (SM/V; N = 298) who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and were receiving inpatient rehabilitation. The PCL-C and PCL-5 were completed at the same time. Predicted PCL-5 scores for the sample were obtained according to the crosswalk developed by Moshier et al. We used three measures of agreement: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), mean difference between predicted and observed scores, and Cohen's κ to determine the performance of the crosswalk in this sample. Subgroups relevant to those who have sustained a TBI, such as TBI severity, were also examined. There was strong agreement between the predicted and observed PCL-5 scores (ICC = .95). The overall mean difference between predicted and observed PCL-5 scores was 0.07 and not statistically significant (SD = 8.29, p = .89). Significant mean differences between predicted and observed PCL-5 scores calculated between subgroups were seen in Black participants (MD = −4.09, SD = 8.41, p = .01) and those in the Year 5 follow-up group (MD = 1.77, SD = 7.14, p = .03). Cohen's κ across subgroups had a mean of κ = 0.76 (.57-1.0), suggesting that there was moderate to almost perfect diagnostic agreement. Our results suggest the crosswalk created by Moshier et al. can be applied to SM/V who have suffered a TBI. Public Significance Statement The crosswalk for the PTSD Checklist-Civilian and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 versions created by Moshier et al. (2019) can be applied to service members and veterans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Research studies and clinical programs that have been using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian can transition to the updated PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 without losing longitudinal data.