The critical warzone experiences (CWE) scale: Initial psychometric properties and association with PTSD, anxiety, and depression

PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH

卷:220

Article

Kimbrel, Nathan A.^1,2  Evans, Lianna D.^3,4  Patel, Amee B.^5,6  Wilson, Laura C.⁷  Meyer, Eric C.^3,4,8  Gulliver, Suzy B.^4,9  Morissette, Sandra B.^3,4,8 

[1] Durham Vet Affairs Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27705 USA

[2] VA Midatlantic Mental Illness Res Educ & Clin Ctr, Durham, NC USA

[3] Cent Texas Vet Hlth Care Syst, Temple, TX USA

[4] Texas A&M Hlth Sci Ctr, College Stn, TX USA

[5] GV Sonny Montgomery Vet Affairs Med Ctr, Jackson, MS USA

[6] South Cent Mental Illness Res Educ & Clin Ctr, Little Rock, AR USA

[7] Univ Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA USA

[8] VISN 17 Ctr Excellence Res Returning War Vet, Dept Vet Affairs, Waco, TX USA

[9] Baylor Scott & White, Warrior Res Inst, Waco, TX USA

关键词: Combat exposure;    Veterans;    PTSD;    Depression;    Anxiety;    Assessment;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.053

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The objective of the present research was to develop and evaluate a critical warzone experiences (ONE) scale for use with Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. The psychometric properties of the CWE were evaluated across three independent samples of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. Despite its brevity (7 items), the CWE exhibited good internal consistency (average alpha =0.83), good temporal stability (1-year test retest reliability= 0.73), good concurrent validity with lengthier measures of warzone experiences (average r=0.74), and a clear unidimensional factor structure (average factor loading=0.69). Study 2 confirmed the CWE's factor structure through confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling demonstrated a strong association between CWE and post-deployment mental health, beta =0.49, p <0.001. Study 3 provided further support for the predictive validity of the CWE by demonstrating that it was associated with PTSD diagnosis, clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity, and global functional impairment in an independent sample of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans (average r= 0.59). While replication of these findings in more diverse samples is needed, the preliminary evidence from these studies indicates that the CWE is a brief, reliable, and valid measure of critical warzone experiences among Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

【 授权许可】

Free