Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Symptom Checklist- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (SCL-PTSD)

Abstract

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic prevalent psychiatric illness, often demanding years of treatment. Early assessment and proper diagnosis may facilitate preventing appearance of comorbid conditions and further deterioration of psychosocial functions. The development of a scale that is easily administered and has good psychometric properties is warranted. Saunders et al. (1989) derived a 28-item scale for crime-related PTSD from the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Korean version of SCL-PTSD in PTSD patients at a trauma clinic of university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Methods The self-report data from 104 PTSD patients who completed SCL-PTSD, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) were gathered. Test-retest reliability of four week interval and Cronbach alpha for internal consistency were calculated. Convergent validity was approached with correlation between SCL-PTSD and scores of anxiety and depression and concurrent validity with IES-R.

Results The Korean version of SCL-PTSD showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.938) and moderate four-week temporal stability (r = 0.527). Comparison with other diagnostic groups, the scores of SCL-PTSD were significantly higher demonstrating its discriminant validity against other clinical disorders. Convergent validity was confirmed as the scores of SCL-PTSD significant correlated with those of BDI (r=.755, p<.001), SAI(r=.317, p=.004) and TAI(r=.517, p=<.001). Concurrent validity was proven from correlation with scores of IES-R (r = .727, p<.001).

Conclusions This study revealed sound psychometric prosperities of the Korean version of SCL-PTSD further supporting its use of clinical research and practice.