Self-reported versus clinician-evaluated symptom assessment and diagnosis of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD: a comparison between the International Trauma Interview and the International Trauma Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: The ICD-11 introduced distinct criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD), necessitating validated assessment tools. While the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is a widely used self-report measure, the International Trauma Interview (ITI) is a structured clinician-administered interview considered a gold standard. This study investigated the correspondence between ITQ and ITI symptom and diagnostic classifications in a treatment-seeking veteran population. Methods: A sample of 108 Danish veterans completed both the ITQ and ITI. We calculated descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and Cohen’s κ values to assess agreement for individual symptom items and diagnostic categories (ICD-11 PTSD, CPTSD, and PTSD or CPTSD combined), using the ITI as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were also determined. Results: ITQ scores were consistently higher than ITI scores across all symptom domains. Total symptom scores for PTSD, DSO, and CPTSD showed strong associations between instruments (r =.74 to.82, all p