Are posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex-PTSD distinguishable within a treatment-seeking sample of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon?. (16th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hyland, P.; Ceannt, R.; Daccache, F.; Abou Daher, R.; Sleiman, J.; Gilmore, B.; Byrne, S.; Shevlin, M.; Murphy, J.; Vallières, F.
• Is Part Of: Global mental health. Volume 5(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-16
• Subjects: Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), -- ICD-11, -- refugees, -- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health care -- Periodicals; Mental health policy -- Periodicals; World health -- Periodicals; 362.19689
• DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2018.2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-4251

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The World Health Organization will publish its 11 th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2018. The ICD-11 will include a refined model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a new diagnosis of complex PTSD (CPTSD). Whereas emerging data supports the validity of these proposals, the discriminant validity of PTSD and CPTSD have yet to be tested amongst a sample of refugees. Methods: Treatment-seeking Syrian refugees ( N = 110) living in Lebanon completed an Arabic version of the International Trauma Questionnaire ; a measure specifically designed to capture the symptom content of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Results: In total, 62.6% of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or CPTSD. More refugees met the criteria for CPTSD (36.1%) than PTSD (25.2%) and no gender differences were observed. Latent class analysis results identified three distinct groups: (1) a PTSD class, (2) a CPTSD class and (3) a low symptom class. Class membership was significantly predicted by levels of functional impairment. Conclusion: Support for the discriminant validity of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD was observed for the first time within a sample of refugees. In support of the cross-cultural validity of the ICD-11 proposals, the prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD were similar to those observed in culturally distinct contexts.