The Development of a Brief Version of the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI-9)

Abstract

Negative posttraumatic cognitions lead to the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. There is a need for a brief measure to assess these cognitions. Participants were administered the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) and measures of mental health symptomatology. These data were used to develop a brief version of the PTCI (PTCI-9) in 223 male and female veterans, which was then examined in a sample of 117 female civilians. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated an acceptable fit in both samples. The PTCI-9 total and subscale scores showed strong internal consistencies (Cronbach’s αs = .80-.87) and strong correlations with the PTCI in veterans ( rs = .90-.96) and civilians ( rs = .91-.96). Measurement invariance testing demonstrated partial invariance between the two samples. The PTCI-9 significantly correlated with measures of PTSD, depression, and quality of life. These findings demonstrate that the PTCI-9 is a reliable and valid measure of posttraumatic cognitions that can reduce patient and provider burden.