Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 for the Thai population

Objective

This study aimed to perform a transcultural translation of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and assess its reliability within the Thai context.

Methods

The PCL-5 underwent a comprehensive translation process, including forward and backward translation, assessment by an expert panel, and comprehension testing by 10 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The internal consistency of the overall scale and its subscales was examined using a sample of 100 patients with psychiatric disorders. Test-retest reliability was tested on Day 0 and Day 14. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess structural validity and goodness-of-fit.

Results

Experts’ assessment of item-objective congruence indicated a satisfactory alignment of all items. The patients with PTSD demonstrated a strong understanding of the questionnaire. The translated PCL-5 exhibited excellent internal consistency (α = 0.96) with robust internal consistency of all subscales (α ranging from 0.86 to 0.91). The test-retest reliability was high (r = 0.82). Among the three structural models tested, the seven-factor Hybrid model provided the best fit to the data. Notably, patients with personality disorders scored the highest.

Conclusions

The Thai version of the PCL-5 demonstrates reliability, making it a valuable instrument for clinical application and future research among the Thai population. Patients with comorbid personality disorders may score higher on the PCL-5.