Symptom structure of PTSD: support for a hierarchical model separating core PTSD symptoms from dysphoria

Arthur R. Rademaker; Agnes van Minnen; Freek Ebberink; Mirjam van Zuiden; Muriel A. Hagenaars; Elbert Geuze

doi:10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580

Symptom structure of PTSD: support for a hierarchical model separating core PTSD symptoms from dysphoria

Arthur R. Rademaker^*, Agnes van Minnen, Freek Ebberink, Mirjam van Zuiden, Muriel A. Hagenaars, Elbert Geuze

^*Corresponding author for this work

Clinical Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: As of yet, no collective agreement has been reached regarding the precise factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several alternative factor-models have been proposed in the last decades.

Objective: The current study examined the fit of a hierarchical adaptation of the Simms et al. (2002) dysphoria model and compared it to the fit of the PTSD model as depicted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a correlated four-factor emotional numbing, and a correlated four-factor dysphoria model.

Methods: Data were collected using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale in a mixed-trauma sample of treatment-seeking PTSD patients (N = 276).

Results: All examined models provided superior fit to the three-factor model of DSM-IV. The hierarchical four-factor solution provided a better fit than competing models.

Conclusion: The present study provides empirical support for a conceptualization of PTSD that includes a higher-order PTSD factor that encompasses re-experiencing, arousal, and effortful avoidance sub-factors and a dysphoria factor.

Original language	English
Article number	17580
Number of pages	9
Journal	European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Volume	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580
Publication status	Published - 13 Dec 2012

Keywords

PTSD
confirmatory factor analysis
trauma
distress disorders
dysphoria

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10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580

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@article{9252e9fbb5ed49bf91bb2cc000c6aec3,

title = "Symptom structure of PTSD: support for a hierarchical model separating core PTSD symptoms from dysphoria",

abstract = "Background: As of yet, no collective agreement has been reached regarding the precise factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several alternative factor-models have been proposed in the last decades.Objective: The current study examined the fit of a hierarchical adaptation of the Simms et al. (2002) dysphoria model and compared it to the fit of the PTSD model as depicted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a correlated four-factor emotional numbing, and a correlated four-factor dysphoria model.Methods: Data were collected using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale in a mixed-trauma sample of treatment-seeking PTSD patients (N = 276).Results: All examined models provided superior fit to the three-factor model of DSM-IV. The hierarchical four-factor solution provided a better fit than competing models.Conclusion: The present study provides empirical support for a conceptualization of PTSD that includes a higher-order PTSD factor that encompasses re-experiencing, arousal, and effortful avoidance sub-factors and a dysphoria factor.",

keywords = "PTSD, confirmatory factor analysis, trauma, distress disorders, dysphoria",

author = "Rademaker, {Arthur R.} and {van Minnen}, Agnes and Freek Ebberink and {van Zuiden}, Mirjam and Hagenaars, {Muriel A.} and Elbert Geuze",

year = "2012",

month = dec,

day = "13",

doi = "10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

journal = "European Journal of Psychotraumatology",

issn = "2000-8066",

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T1 - Symptom structure of PTSD

T2 - support for a hierarchical model separating core PTSD symptoms from dysphoria

AU - Rademaker, Arthur R.

AU - van Minnen, Agnes

AU - Ebberink, Freek

AU - van Zuiden, Mirjam

AU - Hagenaars, Muriel A.

AU - Geuze, Elbert

PY - 2012/12/13

Y1 - 2012/12/13

N2 - Background: As of yet, no collective agreement has been reached regarding the precise factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several alternative factor-models have been proposed in the last decades.Objective: The current study examined the fit of a hierarchical adaptation of the Simms et al. (2002) dysphoria model and compared it to the fit of the PTSD model as depicted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a correlated four-factor emotional numbing, and a correlated four-factor dysphoria model.Methods: Data were collected using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale in a mixed-trauma sample of treatment-seeking PTSD patients (N = 276).Results: All examined models provided superior fit to the three-factor model of DSM-IV. The hierarchical four-factor solution provided a better fit than competing models.Conclusion: The present study provides empirical support for a conceptualization of PTSD that includes a higher-order PTSD factor that encompasses re-experiencing, arousal, and effortful avoidance sub-factors and a dysphoria factor.

AB - Background: As of yet, no collective agreement has been reached regarding the precise factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several alternative factor-models have been proposed in the last decades.Objective: The current study examined the fit of a hierarchical adaptation of the Simms et al. (2002) dysphoria model and compared it to the fit of the PTSD model as depicted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a correlated four-factor emotional numbing, and a correlated four-factor dysphoria model.Methods: Data were collected using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale in a mixed-trauma sample of treatment-seeking PTSD patients (N = 276).Results: All examined models provided superior fit to the three-factor model of DSM-IV. The hierarchical four-factor solution provided a better fit than competing models.Conclusion: The present study provides empirical support for a conceptualization of PTSD that includes a higher-order PTSD factor that encompasses re-experiencing, arousal, and effortful avoidance sub-factors and a dysphoria factor.

KW - PTSD

KW - confirmatory factor analysis

KW - trauma

KW - distress disorders

KW - dysphoria

U2 - 10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580

DO - 10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.17580

M3 - Article

SN - 2000-8066

VL - 3

JO - European Journal of Psychotraumatology

JF - European Journal of Psychotraumatology

M1 - 17580

ER -

Symptom structure of PTSD: support for a hierarchical model separating core PTSD symptoms from dysphoria

Abstract

Keywords

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