Psychometric Properties of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index: Part I

TLDR

The study presents psychometric characteristics of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM IV derived from a large sample of children and adolescents. The authors evaluated 6,291 children and adolescents at National Child Traumatic Stress Network centers to assess the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index. The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index showed higher scores in girls, age‑specific peaks at 7–9 and 16–18 years, no racial/ethnic differences, excellent internal consistency (α = .88–.91), convergent validity with TSCC‑A but not discriminant validity, a three‑factor structure aligning with DSM IV PTSD, and higher scores were linked to increased odds of functional/behavior problems (OR = 1–1.80).

Abstract

This article presents psychometric characteristics of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM IV (PTSD‐RI) derived from a large sample of children and adolescents ( N = 6,291) evaluated at National Child Traumatic Stress Network centers. Overall mean total PTSD‐RI score for girls was significantly higher as compared with boys. Age‐related differences were found in that overall mean total PTSD‐RI scores and within sex groups were higher among those aged 7–9 years and 16–18 years. There were no significant differences in mean total PTSD‐RI scores across racial/ethnic groups. The PTSD‐RI total scale displayed good to excellent internal consistency reliability across age ranges, sex, and racial/ethnic groups (α = .88–.91). Correlations of PTSD‐RI scores with PTS subscale scores on the TSCC‐A for the entire sample and within sex, age, and ethnic/racial groups provided evidence of convergent validity, although not discriminant validity. In contradistinction to previously reported 4‐factor models, an exploratory factor analysis revealed 3 factors that mostly reflected the underlying dimensions of PTSD in DSM IV . PTSD‐RI scores were associated with increased odds ratios for functional/behavior problems (odds ratio [ OR ] = 1–1.80). These findings are striking in light of the wide range of trauma exposures, age, and race/ethnicity among subjects.