Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 28, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 267-274

A Comparison of DSM-5 and DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Traumatized Refugees (Article)

Schnyder U.* , Müller J. , Morina N. , Schick M. , Bryant R.A. , Nickerson A.
  • a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • b Psychiatric Hospital, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
  • c Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • d Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • e School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • f School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence rate and factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the diagnostic criteria of the fourth and fifth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, ) in traumatized refugees. There were 134 adult treatment-seeking, severely and multiply traumatized patients from various refugee backgrounds were assessed in their mother tongue using a computerized set of questionnaires consisting of a trauma list, the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, and the new PTSD items that had been suggested by the DSM-5 Task Force of the American Psychiatric Association. Using DSM-IV, 60.4% of participants met diagnostic criteria for PTSD; using DSM-5, only 49.3% fulfilled all criteria (p < .001). Confirmatory factor analysis of DSM-IV and DSM-5 items showed good and comparable model fits. Furthermore, classification functions in the DSM-5 were satisfactory. The new Cluster D symptoms showed relatively high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive power, and negative predictive power. The DSM-5 symptom structure appears to be applicable to traumatized refugees. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood may be especially useful for clinicians, not only to determine the extent to which an individual refugee is likely to meet criteria for PTSD, but also in providing targets for clinical intervention. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee predictive value Factor Analysis, Statistical human Refugees Warfare middle aged comparative study affect diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Surveys and Questionnaires arousal Humans psychology sleep disorder male female cognition psychological rating scale Psychiatric Status Rating Scales questionnaire adult Predictive Value of Tests Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic factorial analysis Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84938992840&doi=10.1002%2fjts.22023&partnerID=40&md5=db923dc21c4e257910e770885e69ae8c
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22023
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English