The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes a new diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). The International Trauma Interview (ITI) is a n... A study in Lithuania showed that the International Trauma Interview is a valid tool for assessing and diagnosing ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). Antecedentes: La 11ª revisión de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-11) incluye un nuevo diagnóstico de trastorno de estrés postraumático complejo (TEPT-C). La Entrevista Internaci... 背景:第 11 版国际疾病分类 (ICD-11) 纳入了对复杂性创伤后应激障碍 (CPTSD) 的新诊断。国际创伤访谈 (ITI) 是一种评估 ICD-11 PTSD 和 CPTSD的全新临床用诊断访谈。目的:本研究旨在评估立陶宛样本中 ITI与评分者之一致性, 潜在结构, 内部信度以及收敛效度和区分效度有关的心理测量学特性。方法:共有 103 名有各种创伤经历史的成年人参与了这项研究。样本...

After the inclusion of a novel diagnosis of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), there is a growing need for research focused on not only studying the underlying risk factors of this disorder but also differentiating the risk factors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and CPTSD to understand better the factors leading to CPTSD onset and symptom maintenance. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of traumatic experiences, trauma-related disorders and risk factors associated with ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a population-based Lithuanian sample using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). The study sample included 885 participants (age M[SD] = 37.96 [14.67], 63.4% female). The Life Events Checklist was used to measure trauma exposure, PTSD and CPTSD symptoms were measured by the Lithuanian ITQ version. The Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire (DTQ) was used to measure the urge or reluctance to talk about trauma. The prevalence of at least one traumatic experience in the study sample was 81.4%. The prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD among the general population in Lithuania was 5.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Accumulative lifetime trauma exposure, sexual assault and assault with a weapon were significant predictors for both PTSD and CPTSD. Participants from the CPTSD group reported greater reluctance to disclose trauma and stronger emotional reactions than no diagnosis and PTSD groups. Results also indicate that the Lithuanian ITQ version is a valid measure for screening PTSD and CPTSD in the general population. Previous history of trauma and interpersonal trauma were associated with posttraumatic stress disorders but did not differentiate between PTSD and CPTSD in our study. However, social trauma-related factors, such as trauma disclosure, were associated with stronger CPTSD symptoms.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on healthcare globally. Additional pressure created by coronavirus adversely affected the mental health and psychological well-being of healthcare workers, leading many to question their desire and willingness to continue working in healthcare. This study aimed to identify predictors for career change ideation among healthcare professionals in two countries; Lithuania and the United Kingdom amid the coronavirus pandemic. In total, 610 healthcare professionals from Lithuania and the UK (285 and 325, respectively) participated in a survey from May to August 2020. Psychological distress and psychological well-being were measured using the self-report scales “DASS-21” and “WHO-5”. Almost half of the sample (49.2%), 59.6% and 40.0% in Lithuanian and the UK, respectively, exhibited career change ideation, the country effect was significant (AOR = 2.21, p < 0.001). Stronger ideation to leave healthcare was predicted by higher levels of depression (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.005), stress (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007), anxiety surrounding inadequate personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.27, p = 0.009), and lower psychological well-being scores (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007). We conclude that psychosocial support must be provided for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout and loss of staff amid the pandemic.

Background: ICD-11 includes a new diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), resulting predominantly from reoccurring or prolonged trauma. Previous studies showed that lack of social support is among the strongest predictors of PTSD, but social factors have been sparsely studied in the context of the ICD-11 definition of PTSD and CPTSD. Aims: To analyse the factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) in a Lithuanian clinical sample and to evaluate the mediating role of social and interpersonal factors in the relationship between trauma exposure and ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Method: The sample comprised 280 adults from out-patient mental health centres (age, years: mean 39.48 (s.d. = 13.35); 77.5% female). Trauma-related stress symptoms were measured with the ITQ. Social disapproval was measured with the Social Acknowledgment Questionnaire (SAQ) and trauma disclosure using the Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire (DTQ). Results: ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD prevalence among the participants in this study was 13.9% and 10.0% respectively. Results indicated that avoidance of trauma disclosure mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSD as well as CPTSD, whereas social disapproval mediated only the relationship between trauma exposure and CPTSD. Conclusions: The findings suggest that disclosure of traumatic experiences and support from closest friends and family members might mitigate the effects of traumatic experiences, potentially reducing the risk of developing CPTSD.

Background: The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes a new diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). There has been very little research investigating associations between CPTSD symptoms and suicide risk following sexual abuse. This and questions concerning similarities and differences between CPTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD), led to the current study that aimed to explore indirect associations between sexual abuse and suicide risk through the symptoms of CPTSD and borderline traits. Methods: The study sample comprised 103 adults with a history of traumatic experiences (M_age = 32.64, SD_age = 9.36; 83.5% female). In total, 26.3% of the participants reported experiencing sexual abuse during their lifetime. The clinician-administered International Trauma Interview (ITI) was used for the assessment of ICD-11 CPTSD symptoms. Self-report measures were used for the evaluation of borderline pattern (BP) symptoms and suicide risk. Mediation analyses were performed to evaluate the mediating effects of CPTSD and BP symptoms for the association between sexual trauma and suicide risk. Results: In a parallel mediation model, CPTSD and BP symptoms mediated the association between sexual abuse and suicide risk, following adjustment for the covariates of age, gender, and whether the traumatic experience occurred in childhood or adulthood. Around 73% of participants who met diagnostic criteria for CPTSD reported previous suicide attempt(s). Conclusions: Suicide risk assessment and intervention should be an important part of the management of victims of sexual abuse with CPTSD and BP symptoms.

Background: Adolescents exposed to violence are at a higher risk for mental health problems than their peers. Exposure to ongoing violence can potentially lead to Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS). CTS reactions have never been studied in relation to violence exposure in adolescent samples.Objective: We aimed to validate the Lithuanian version of the Continuous Traumatic Stress Response (CTSR) scale in the adolescent sample, to explore the adolescents' CTS reactions using the person-oriented approach, and to study the relationship between different types of violence and CTS reactions.Method: In total, 321 adolescents (M(SD)_age = 14.19 (1.26)) from Lithuania were included in the current study, of which 181 (56.4%) were female, 135 (42.1%) were male, and 54.5% (n = 175) were continuously exposed to violence over their lifetime. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with measurement invariance across genders and age groups was used to test the structural validity of the CTSR scale. A latent class-analysis approach was used to explore the patterns of CTS reactions.Results: The results showed good structural, convergent, and differential validity of the CTSR scale. Exhaustion/Detachment, Rage/Betrayal, and Fear/Helplessness were more profound in continuous violence exposure versus non-exposure groups, with even higher CTS reactions when recently exposed to violence. Three groups of adolescents with low, moderate, and high CTS reactions were distinguished with the suggested cut-off sum score of CTSR ≥18 for severe CTS reactions. The intensity of exposure to neglect, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse positively predicted Continuous traumatic stress (CTS) response group membership.Conclusions: These results stress the need for psychological support when exposed to continuous interpersonal violence in adolescence.