Psychometric properties of the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) in a German sample of individuals with a history of trauma

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Julia Müller - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Michèle Wessa - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Sirko Rabe - , Saxonian Hospital (Author)
  • Denise Dörfel - , Technische Universität Dresden (Author)
  • Christine Knaevelsrud - , Treatment Center for Torture Victims, Free University of Berlin (Author)
  • Herta Flor - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Andreas Maercker - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Anke Karl - , University of Southampton, University of Exeter (Author)

Abstract

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the 33-item Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (Foa, Ehlers, Clark, Tolin, & Orsillo, 1999) in 213 individuals with accident-related trauma and 190 individuals with interpersonal trauma. Confirmatory factor analyses generally supported the scale's original three-factor structure - Negative Cognitions About Self (SELF), Negative Cognitions About World (WORLD), and Self-Blame (BLAME) - after four redundant items were excluded. However, in line with previous findings, results for BLAME remained inconclusive because the scale performed poorly with the individuals with accident-related trauma, whereas its fit with those with interpersonal trauma was acceptable. BLAME might possibly relate to trauma type. Our results indicate that the proposed 29-item version shows acceptable psychometric properties and that the role of BLAME should be further investigated.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)116-125
Number of pages10
JournalPsychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Volume2
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 77957860001
ORCID /0000-0002-5632-419X/work/142246598

Keywords

Keywords

  • assessment, cognition, inventory, posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, trauma