Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.53(6) > 1017707

Oh, Won, Lee, Yoo, Kim, and Kim: Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version in North Korean Defectors

Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted for development of the Korean version of the Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist civilian version (PCL-C) by evaluating its reliability and validity for the North Korean defectors population.

Methods

A total of 69 North Korean defectors participated in this study. All patients were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient or inpatient ward. We categorized the participants into two groups according to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) diagnosis of PTSD (PTSD, n=32 ; Non-PTSD, n=37). All Subjects completed psychometric assessments, including the PCL-C, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-PTSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results

Findings provided support for psychometric properties of the Korean version of the PCL-C. The PCL-C showed good internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.93), and a significantly positive correlation with CAPS and MMPI-PTSD (r=0.47, r=0.61, respectively). The optimal cutoff point of PCL-C for the North Korean defectors was at a total score of 56 with sensitivity and specificity of 0.88, and 0.50, respectively.

Conclusion

Overall, the Korean version of the PCL-C appears to be a valid and reliable measure of PTSD symptoms among the North Korean defectors.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
The ROC curve for the PCL-C compared to the CAPS diagnosis of PTSD (AUC=0.73). ROC : Receiver operating characteristic, PCL-C : PCL-Checklist civilian version, CAPS : Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, AUC : Area under the curve.
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Table 1
Comparisons of demographic variables between two groups
jkna-53-410-i001

*: t-test, : Chi-square test, : Fisher's exact test. PTSD : Posttraumatic stress disorder, SD : Standard deviation

Table 2
Pearson's correlations between the PCL-C total score and the PCL-C sub factors
jkna-53-410-i002

*: p<0.01. PCL-C : PTSD Checklist civilian version, PTSD : Posttraumatic stress disorder

Table 3
Means, standard deviations (SD) and Pearson's correlations among BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, PCL-C, MMPI-PTSD, CAPS
jkna-53-410-i003

*: p<0.01. BDI : Beck Depression Inventory, STAI-S : State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state), STAI-T : State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (trait), PCL-C : PTSD Checklist civilian version, MMPI-PTSD : Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale, CAPS : Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, PTSD : Posttraumatic stress disorder

Table 4
Sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and efficiency of the PCL-C for 6 selected total scores relative to CAPS-based diagnosis of PTSD
jkna-53-410-i004

*: Optimal cut-off score, Sensitivity : true positives/(true positives+false negatives), Specificity : true negatives/(true negatives+false positives), Positive predictive value : true positives/(true positives+false positives), Negative predictive value : true negatives/(true negatives+false negatives), Efficiency : (true positives+true negatives)/(true positives+true negatives+false positives+false negatives). PCL-C : PTSD Checklist civilian version, PTSD : Posttraumatic stress disorder, CAPS : Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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