Frontiers in Psychology
Volume 10, Issue JULY, 2019

Dimensional structure and cultural invariance of DSM V post-traumatic stress disorder among Iraqi and Syrian displaced people (Article) (Open Access)

Ibrahim H.* , Catani C. , Ismail A.A. , Neuner F.
  • a Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany, Department of Clinical Psychology, Koya University, Koya, Iraq, Vivo International, Konstanz, Germany
  • b Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany, Vivo International, Konstanz, Germany
  • c Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany, Department of Clinical Psychology, Koya University, Koya, Iraq
  • d Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany, Vivo International, Konstanz, Germany

Abstract

While the factor structure of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms has been investigated among various traumatized populations in Western and high-income countries, knowledge regarding the validity of factor structure of PTSD among culturally diverse populations in low-and-middle-income countries is limited. The current study examined the factor structure and cultural invariance of PTSD in 521 Iraqi and 993 Syrian war-affected displaced people who were living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Results from confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that alternative factor models for PTSD, including a new model derived from this population (anhedonia and affect model) resulted in a better fit than the current DSM V models. Taken together, the results showed that a good fit, as well as the measurement invariance of PTSD factors, could be obtained by applying the anhedonia and hybrid model. This study provides further support for the anhedonia and hybrid model of PTSD and fills an important gap in knowledge about the validity of PTSD symptom clusters among Arab and Kurdish populations. © 2019 Ibrahim, Catani, Ismail and Neuner.

Author Keywords

PTSD Arab Kurd DSM confirmatory factor analysis Iraqi Syrian Measurement invariance

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069462232&doi=10.3389%2ffpsyg.2019.01505&partnerID=40&md5=84d4025007ea52a4d4c0baa787964314
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01505
ISSN: 16641078
Original Language: English