Assessing a five factor model of PTSD: Is dysphoric arousal a unique PTSD construct showing differential relationships with anxiety and depression?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2012
Journal
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume
26
Issue
2
First Page
368
Last Page
376
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.12.002
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder's (PTSD) latent structure has been widely debated. To date, two four-factor models (Numbing and Dysphoria) have received the majority of factor analytic support. Recently, Elhai et al. (2011) proposed and supported a revised (five-factor) Dysphoric Arousal model. Data were gathered from two separate samples; War veterans and Primary Care medical patients. The three models were compared and the resultant factors of the Dysphoric Arousal model were validated against external constructs of depression and anxiety. The Dysphoric Arousal model provided significantly better fit than the Numbing and Dysphoria models across both samples. When differentiating between factors, the current results support the idea that Dysphoric Arousal can be differentiated from Anxious Arousal but not from Emotional Numbing when correlated with depression. In conclusion, the Dysphoria model may be a more parsimonious representation of PTSD's latent structure in these trauma populations despite superior fit of the Dysphoric Arousal model.
Notes
Highlights
► The newly proposed Dysphoric Arousal model provided superior fit compared to the Numbing and Dysphoria models.
► Dysphoric Arousal was differentiated from Anxious Arousal but not from Emotional Numbing when correlating the factors with depression.
► Statistical support was found for the Dysphoric Arousal model but the results question whether the Dysphoria model may be a more parsimonious option.