The impact of item order on the factor structure of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is the most widely used self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is frequently modeled as having four correlated factors consistent with the DSM-5 symptom structure. Some researchers have argued that item order may influence factor structure. Although two studies have examined this, they were both based on DSM-IV criteria, and neither utilized a randomized design.

A Bifactor Evaluation of Self-Report and Clinician-Administered Measures of PTSD in Veterans.

The PTSD Checklist for (PCL-5) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for (CAPS-5) are two of the most widely used and well-validated PTSD measures providing total and subscale scores that correspond with PTSD symptoms. However, there is little information about the utility of subscale scores above and beyond the total score for either measure. The current study compared the proposed four-factor model to a bifactor model across both measures using a sample of veterans ( = 1,240) presenting to a Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD specialty clinic.