J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 Nov;53(6):410-417. 10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.6.410.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version in North Korean Defectors

• Oh SI
• Won SD
• Lee SH
• Yoo SY
• Kim HC
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2383331
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.6.410

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 alpha=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.

Keyword

PTSD Checklist; Screening test; North Korean defectors; Reliability; Validity

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Diagnosis
Humans
Inpatients
MMPI
Outpatients
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*

Figure

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  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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