Trauma exposure and ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a Greenlandic adolescent population
Creators: name: Banzon, Trine
name: Vang, Maria Louison
name: Løkkegaard, Sille Schandorph
name: Elklit, Ask
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Biotechnology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy
Mental Health

description: <b>Background:</b> Little peer-reviewed research has been done on trauma exposure, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) prevalence among Greenlandic children and adolescents. There is a need for a validated Greenlandic version of the International Trauma Questionnaire – Child and Adolescent version (ITQ-CA) to assess symptoms of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD, as well as investigations of the prevalence of these disorders. This information is imperative in a Greenlandic context, where general epidemiological knowledge on traumatic exposure and reactions is lacking. <b>Objective:</b> The present study examined the factor structure of the Greenlandic ITQ-CA, estimated the prevalence of trauma exposure, ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD, and examined the relationship between potentially traumatic events (PTEs), PTSD, CPTSD, and demographic variables in a Greenlandic adolescent population. <b>Method:</b> Confirmatory factor analysis of competing models of the dimensionality of the ITQ-CA was tested among Greenlandic adolescents (<i>N</i> = 704) aged 11–17 years (<i>M</i> = 13.4, SD = 1.77). Using the ITQ-CA, PTSD and CPTSD was assessed. <b>Results:</b> Findings supported the factorial validity of the Greenlandic ITQ-CA although factor structure differed across boys and girls. A total of 82.8% of the adolescents had been directly exposed to at least 1 PTE (<i>M</i> = 3.2), and 57.0% had been indirectly exposed (<i>M</i> = 3.1). The estimated prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD was 7.8% and 8.5%, while an additional 13.9% and 7% reached subclinical levels. Older age, female gender, several different and cumulative PTEs significantly elevated the risk of PTSD and CPTSD. <b>Conclusion:</b> ITQ-CA is a valid tool for identifying symptoms of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Results indicate that type and quantity of direct traumatic exposure are important predictors of PTSD and CPTSD. Events not normally considered traumatic as well as non-interpersonal events are significantly associated with CPTSD symptoms. This is the first study to assess ICD-11 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) prevalence in a sample of Greenlandic children and adolescents as measured by the International Trauma Questionnaire – Child and Adolescent Version (ITQ-CA).Confirmatory factor analysis supports the factor structure of the ITQ-CA as a measure of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD symptoms among Greenlandic children and adolescents, although factor structure differed across boys and girls.Results indicate that both trauma type and quantity of direct traumatic exposures are important predictors of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD.Results from this study indicate that events not normally considered traumatic as well as non-interpersonal events are significantly associated with CPTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. This is the first study to assess ICD-11 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) prevalence in a sample of Greenlandic children and adolescents as measured by the International Trauma Questionnaire – Child and Adolescent Version (ITQ-CA). Confirmatory factor analysis supports the factor structure of the ITQ-CA as a measure of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD symptoms among Greenlandic children and adolescents, although factor structure differed across boys and girls. Results indicate that both trauma type and quantity of direct traumatic exposures are important predictors of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Results from this study indicate that events not normally considered traumatic as well as non-interpersonal events are significantly associated with CPTSD symptoms in children and adolescents.