Validation of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version in survivors of bone marrow transplantation

J Trauma Stress. 1999 Jul;12(3):485-99. doi: 10.1023/A:1024719104351.

Abstract

Life-threatening illness now qualifies as a precipitating stessor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We examined the validity of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Juska, & Keane, 1993), a brief 17-item inventory of PTSD-like symptoms, in a sample of 111 adults who had undergone bone marrow transplantation an average of 4.04 years previously. Exploratory factor analysis of the PCL-C identified four distinct patterns of symptom responses: Numbing-Hyperarousal, Dreams-Memories of the Cancer Treatment, General Hyperarousal, Responses to Cancer-Related Reminders and Avoidance-Numbing. Respondents meeting PTSD symptom criteria on the PCL-C had significantly lower physical, role, and social functioning, greater distress and anxiety, and significantly more intrusive and avoidant responses than individuals who did not meet PTSD symptom criteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arousal
  • Attitude to Health
  • Avoidance Learning
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / psychology*
  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / etiology
  • Precipitating Factors
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
  • Survivors / psychology*