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Vol.30 No.2, pp. 84-88

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Review

  • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
  • Volume 23(1); 2016
  • Article

Review

Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry 2016;23(1):29-36. Published online: Jan, 1, 2016

Abstract PDF Full Text

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist in Public Firefighters and Rescue Workers

  • Shinwon Park, MA1;Hyeonseok S. Jeong, PhD2;Jooyeon Jamie Im, MS3,4;Yujin Jeon, MD4,5;Jiyoung Ma, MS3,4;Yera Choi, MS4;Soonhyun Ban, MS4,6;Sungeun Kim, BA4,6;Siyoung Yu, BA4,6;Sunho Lee, MS3,4;Saerom Jeon, MS4,6;Ilhyang Kang, MS4,6;Bora Lee, MS4,6;Sooyeon Lee, BS4,6;Jihee Son, MS4,7;Jae-ho Lim, PhD8;Sujung Yoon, MD4,6;Eui-Jung Kim, MD9;Jieun E. Kim, MD4,6; and In Kyoon Lyoo, MD4,6,7;
    1;Department of Psychology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 2;Department of Radiology, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon, 3;Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 4;Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 5;Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 6;Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 7;Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 8;Central Officials Training Institute, Gwacheon, 9;Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
Abstract

Objectives : Firefighters and rescue workers are likely to be exposed to a variety of traumatic events; as such, they are vulnerable to the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychometric properties of the Korean version of the PTSD Checklist (PCL), a widely used self-report screening tool for PTSD, were assessed in South Korean firefighters and rescue workers.

Methods : Data were collected via self-report questionnaires and semi-structured clinical interviews administered to 221 firefighters. Internal consistency, item-total correlation, one-week test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and divergent validity were examined. Content validity of the PCL was evaluated using factor analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to estimate the optimal cutoff point and area under the curve.

Results : The PCL demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97), item-total correlation (r = 0.72-0.88), test-retest reliability (r = 0.95), and convergent and divergent validity. The total score of PCL was positively correlated with the number of traumatic events experienced (p < 0.001). Factor analysis revealed two theoretically congruent factors: re-experience/avoidance and numbing/hyperarousal. The optimal cutoff was 45 and the area under the ROC curve was 0.97.

Conclusions : The Korean version of the PCL may be a useful PTSD screening instrument for firefighters and rescue workers, further maximizing opportunities for accurate PTSD diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords Post-traumatic stress disorder;Reliability;Validity.