Dimensional structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress symptoms: Support for a hybrid Anhedonia and Externalizing Behaviors model

TLDR: CFA studies suggested that DSM-5 PTSD symptoms may be best represented by one of two 6-factor models, and results revealed that, in both samples, both 6-Factor models provided significantly better fit than the 4-factor DSM- 5 model, the DSM-4 Dysphoria model, and theDSM-5 Dysphoric Arousal model.

About: This article is published in Journal of Psychiatric Research.The article was published on 2015-02-01 and is currently open access. It has received 278 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Dysphoria & Anhedonia.

Figures

Fig. 1. Path diagram representing item distribution across the 7-factors of the Hybrid model.

Table 1 Item mappings for the five PTSD models assessed in U.S. veterans and Midwestern students.

Table 4 Correlations among factors in both samples.

Table 2 Confirmatory factor analyses fit indices for five PTSD models.

Table 3 Factor loadings for the hybrid 7-factor model.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions in "Dimensional structure of dsm-5 posttraumatic stress symptoms: support for a hybrid anhedonia and externalizing behaviors model" ?

Central to the focus of this study was the revision of PTSD 's tripartite structure in DSM-IV into four symptom clusters in DSM-5. Further, the 7-factor Hybrid model, which incorporates key features of both 6-factor models and is comprised of re-experiencing, avoidance, negative affect, anhedonia, externalizing behaviors, and anxious and dysphoric arousal symptom clusters, provided superior fit to the data in both samples. Results are discussed in light of theoretical and empirical support for the latent structure of DSM-5 PTSD Emerging confirmatory factor analytic ( CFA ) studies have suggested that DSM-5 PTSD symptoms may be best represented by one of two 6-factor models: ( 1 ) an Externalizing Behaviors model characterized by a factor which combines the irritability/anger and self-destructive/reckless behavior items ; and ( 2 ) an Anhedonia model characterized by items of loss of interest, detachment, and restricted affect. 

Q2. What are the future works in "Dimensional structure of dsm-5 posttraumatic stress symptoms: support for a hybrid anhedonia and externalizing behaviors model" ?

In summary, understanding that there may be 7 symptom clusters of PTSD may help to further refine models of the dimensional structure of PTSD symptoms in both research and clinical settings. Therefore, future studies should assess the 7-factor hybrid model across a wide variety of assessment instruments. This is a potential line of enquiry that could be examined in future work as it relates to both the Anhedonia and Externalizing models, and the newly proposed seven-factor Hybridmodel. Further research will be useful in attempting to replicate the findings reported herein ; and evaluating the external validity of the seven-factor model in relation to measures of comorbid psychopathology and biomarkers implicated in PTSD, prognostic utility of this model, and differential sensitivity of the seven factors in assessing PTSD treatment response.