Posttraumatische Belastung bei Krebspatienten: Validierung der
deutschen Version der Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian
Version (PCL-C)
Subtitle: Posttraumatic stress in cancer patients: Validation of the
German Version of the PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version
(PCL-C)
Affiliations: Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische
Psychologie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum
Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52–W26, Hamburg. Tel.: +49 40 7410
56203; Fax: +49 40 7410 54940; E-mail: mehnert@uke.de
Abstract: Objective: Purpose was to evaluate factor structure, symptom
clusters and psychometric properties of the German adaptation of the
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian Version (PCL-C) in
1594 breast and prostate cancer survivors. Methods: Factor structure, internal consistency, concurrent and
divergent validity were analyzed through measures of posttraumatic stress
(IES-R), anxiety and depression (HADS) as well as HRQoL (SF-8). Results: Three factors were extracted using principal component
analysis, which explained 60.5% of the variance. The factors measure numbing
and arousal (9 items) (α= 0.88), intrusion (5 items) (α= 0.88) and
avoidance (3 items) (α= 0.74). Confirmatory factor analysis suggested
good to acceptable fit indexes. Concurrent and divergent validity of the PCL-C
was determined. Conclusion: Findings confirm a three-factor model of the PCL-C,
however, symptom clusters suggest avoidance and numbing as two different
dimensions, and feelings of numbness and arousal as one dimension. Findings
support the use of the PCL-C as a reliable and valid instrument for cancer
patients.
