Using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5 to Screen for PTSD in the Chinese Context: A Pilot Study in a Psychiatric Sample

Purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health problem but it is often unrecognized in health care and social service settings. Reliable and valid measures are important for practitioners to screen for PTSD in the Chinese context. This study developed and pilot tested a Chinese version of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Methods: The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PCL-5 were evaluated in a sample of N = 56 adult psychiatric patients in Taiwan. Online methods were used to facilitate the research process. Results: The Chinese version of the PCL-5 is internally consistent and is associated with trauma exposure and other mental health constructs. Participants with clinically diagnosed DSM-5 PTSD scored significantly higher on the PCL-5 than those without PTSD. The PCL-5 also had an acceptable discrimination performance in this sample. Discussion: Although the initial findings suggest that the PCL-5 is reliable and valid in this pilot study, caution should be taken when interpreting the results. The Chinese version of the PCL-5 may be a promising screening tool, but further psychometric evaluation is necessary.