Psychometric properties of the COVID-19 associated PTSD-Scale

This study aimed to create a scale to measure post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the COVID 19 crisis. Based on the available studies, the Davidson PTSD scale dimensions were used in this online survey. Accordingly, a new scale was designed based on the clinical characteristics of the symptoms of the PTSD, so questions revolved around the possible psychological PTSD symptoms associated with COVID 19. Descriptive approach was used. The study involved 423 participants from the Sultanate of Oman, of whom, 219 were male and 204 were female. Statistical analyses of the scale were conducted using reliability, criterion-related validity, as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The factor analysis revealed three factors to which 15 items of 17 items were loaded that reflect the clinical features of PTSD symptoms. Overall, the scale showed good internal consistency and stability, with relatively good correlations between the items within the factors. The analysis of the confirmation factors led to model fit validation with 14 items, with the results showing a high degree of conformity. Accordingly, the results were discussed, and further studies suggested to further verify and confirm the scale validity.

Pharmacotherapy in the Management of Anxiety and Pain During Acute Coronary Syndromes and the Risk of Developing Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background Benzodiazepines and morphine are given during acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) to alleviate anxiety and pain, and β‐blockers may also reduce pain. ACS may induce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSS). When taken during trauma other than ACS, benzodiazepines increase the risk of PTSS, but it is unknown if benzodiazepines increase the risk of PTSS in ACS. We examined the effects of drug exposure during ACS on the development of PTSS. Methods and Results Study participants were 154 patients with a verified ACS. Baseline demographics, clinical variables, and psychological measures were obtained through a medical history, through a psychometric assessment, and from patient records, and used as covariates in linear regression analysis. Three months after ACS, the severity of PTSS was assessed with the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale. During ACS, 37.7% of patients were exposed to benzodiazepines, whereas 72.1% were exposed to morphine and 88.3% were exposed to β‐blockers, but only 7.1% were exposed to antidepressants. Eighteen (11.7%) patients developed clinical PTSD. Adjusting for all covariates, benzodiazepine use was significantly associated with the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale total severity score (unstandardized coefficient B [SE], 0.589 [0.274]; partial r =0.18; P =0.032) and the reexperiencing subscore (B [SE], 0.433 [0.217]; partial r =0.17; P =0.047). Patients exposed to benzodiazepines had an almost 4‐fold increased relative risk of developing clinical PTSD, adjusting for acute stress disorder symptoms (odds ratio, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.31–10.77). Morphine, β‐blockers, and antidepressants showed no predictive value. Conclusions Notwithstanding short‐term antianxiety effects during ACS, benzodiazepine use might increase the risk of ACS‐induced PTSS with clinical significance, thereby compromising patients' quality of life and prognosis. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01781247.

A Pilot Study of Experience of Gender-Based Violence by Girls with Mental Disorders

Being highly subjective and hard to diagnose, the phenomenon of experiencing of gender-based violence remains insufficiently understood. Finding the nature of such experience in victims with mental disorders appears to be of particular relevance and was chosen as the subject of this research work. It was hypothesized that experience of gender-based violence reflects the negative subjective significance of what happened and is more dramatic in girls with mental health problems than in girls who are mentally healthy. 15 girls with non-psychotic disorders (G.Ye. Sukhareva Center of Mental Health) and 8 mentally healthy girls aged 15-17 have been examined. The following methodologies were used: the Line of Life; Identifying Situations of Gender-Related Violence; Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. It has been established that experiencing gender-based violence by girls with mental disorders is distinguished by increased subjective actuality, acuteness, attainability of spontaneous verbalization and other characteristics. The practical relevance of the data obtained is determined by their applicability in the psychological rehabilitation of mentally diseased girls who have faced gender-based violence.

Psychometric Concerns in the Assessment of Trauma-Related Symptoms in Older Adults

Assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in older adults is still in its infancy despite reflections on this subject in past literature. Factors that influence assessment are traumas that occurred long in the past, lower prevalence, the fact that older people complain less, more misinterpretation of avoiding and intrusion symptoms, more somatic comorbidity, and higher risk of cognitive impairment. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale is mostly used to diagnose PTSD, but is less researched in older individuals. Only two screening instruments have been validated specifically for older adults, the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and the Self-Rating Inventory for PTSD. The PCL scale has been used more often, has been translated in various languages, and is also suitable for clinician rating, which is considered more appropriate for older adults. The PCL-5, based on the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria was researched in older veterans but needs further validation. Biological measures have not yet been adapted for assessment in the complex biological systems of older age. Multimethod assessment and computerized screening are becoming more important and can address many of the difficulties in this field. Finally, much can be learned from knowledge already acquired from younger adults.

A-121 Verbal Learning in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Co-occurring Conditions

Objective The study examined how veterans with PTSD only, mTBI only, and co-occurring mTBI and PTSD acquire, encode, and consolidate verbal information at least three months post mTBI. Method This retrospective study examined 57 veterans (15 mTBI only, 6 PTSD only, 19 mTBI + PTSD, and 17 veteran controls) from a VA setting who were recruited through: polytrauma clinic referrals, introductory letters, and study flyers. The sample included male and female OIF/OEF veterans aged 18 to 70. Inclusion and exclusion criteria of participants were determined by the following measures: (a) Structured Interview for TBI Diagnosis, (b) Clinician-administered PTSD Scale, and (c) Letter Memory Test. One-way ANOVA evaluated group differences between the mTBI only, PTSD only, and mTBI + PTSD groups. A two-way ANOVA evaluated group differences between veterans with and without PTSD. Results The two-way ANOVA revealed that veterans with PTSD perform below the mTBI only and veteran control groups (F = 6.59, p = 0.01) on serial clustering forward strategy. The one-way ANOVA demonstrated that the mTBI + PTSD group performed below the mTBI only group on Trial 1 (F = 3.61, p = 0.04). Conclusions The mTBI + PTSD group performed worse than the mTBI only group on their ability to acquire verbal information. This result may suggest that the co-occurring effects of mTBI and PTSD negatively attribute to a veteran’s ability to focus and attend to new information. Veterans without PTSD were more likely to use a serial clustering strategy to recall information compared to Veterans with PTSD.