Psychometric evaluation of the Dutch version of the posttraumatic cognitions inventory (PTCI)

Trauma-related cognitions play an increasingly prominent role in research on trauma and in clinical practice. The present study investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Dutch version of the posttraumatic cognitions inventory (PTCI) and evaluated its potential as an outcome measure. Data were collected from a treatment-seeking sample of trauma victims (n=158) and a college sample (n=178). The PTCI's three-factor structure was retained in both samples. The PTCI demonstrated high internal consistency and two-week test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was evidenced by a pattern of correlations with instruments for trauma-related cognitions, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depressive symptoms that largely met a priori expectations. Reductions in self-reported and clinician-assessed posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were positively associated with decreased PTCI scores, indicating that the PTCI could assist treatment evaluation. It is concluded that the Dutch version of the PTCI exhibits good psychometric characteristics and has the potential to contribute to trauma-related research.