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. 2024 Jul 9:15:1378486.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1378486. eCollection 2024.

Validation of the Spanish Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form in adolescents with suicide attempts

Ainoa García-Fernández  1   2   3 , Clara Martínez-Cao  1   2   3 , Alberto Sánchez-Fernández-Quejo  4 , Teresa Bobes-Bascarán  2   3   5   6 , Jorge Andreo-Jover  7   8 , Wala Ayad-Ahmed  9 , Ana Isabel Cebriá  10   11   12 , Marina Díaz-Marsá  4   9   10 , Nathalia Garrido-Torres  10   13   14   15 , Sandra Gómez  10   16   17   18 , Ana González-Pinto  10   19   20   21 , Iria Grande  10   16   17   18 , Noelia Iglesias  22 , Katya B March  7   8 , Diego J Palao  10   11   23 , Iván Pérez-Díez  10   8 , Natalia Roberto  10   16   17   18 , Miguel Ruiz-Veguilla  10   13   14   15 , Alejandro de la Torre-Luque  4   10 , Iñaki Zorrilla  10   19   20   21 , Víctor Pérez  24   25   26 ; SURVIVE Group; Pilar A Sáiz  1   2   3   5   10 , María Paz García-Portilla  1   2   3   5   10
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Validation of the Spanish Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form in adolescents with suicide attempts

Ainoa García-Fernández et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Child maltreatment is associated with a higher probability of mental disorders and suicidal behavior in adolescence. Therefore, accurate psychometric instruments are essential to assess this.

Objective: To validate the Spanish version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) in adolescents with suicide attempts.

Methods: Multisite cohort study of 208 adolescents with suicide attempts using data from the following scales: Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and CTQ-SF. Statistical analysis: CTQ-SF scores analyzed by descriptive statistics. Internal consistency: McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity with PHQ-9 and C-SSRS scores: Spearman correlation coefficient. Structural validity: Confirmatory factor analysis.

Results: Floor and ceiling effects: Physical abuse and neglect as well as sexual abuse demonstrated high floor effects (50.0, 35.1, and 61.1% of adolescents, respectively). No ceiling effects were found. The CTQ-SF had excellent internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.94), as did the majority of its subscales (Cronbach's alpha 0.925-0.831) except for physical neglect (0.624). Its concurrent validity was modest, and the emotional neglect subscale had the lowest Spearman correlation coefficients (0.067-0.244). Confirmatory factor analysis: Compared with alternative factor structures, the original CTQ-SF model (correlated 5-factor) exhibited a better fit [S-B χ 2 = 676.653, p < 0; RMSEA (90% CI = 0.076-0.097) = 0.087; SRMR = 0.078; CFI = 0.980; TLI = 0.978].

Conclusion: The Spanish CTQ-SF is a reliable, valid instrument for assessing traumatic experiences in adolescents at high risk of suicide. It appears appropriate for use in routine clinical practice to monitor maltreatment in this group.

Keywords: CTQ-SF; adolescent; reliability; suicide attempt; validity.

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Conflict of interest statement

IG has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: ADAMED, Angelini, Casen Recordati, Esteve, Ferrer, Gedeon Richter, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Lundbeck-Otsuka, Luye, SEI Healthcare, and Viatris outside the submitted work. She also receives royalties from Oxford University Press, Elsevier, and Editorial Médica Panamericana. EV has received grants and served as consultant, advisor, or CME speaker for the following entities: AB-Biotics, AbbVie, Angelini, Biogen, Biohaven, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celon Pharma, Compass, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Ethypha Gedeon Richter, GH Research, Glaxo- Smith Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Lundbeck, Medincell, Novartis, Orion Corporation, Organon, Otsuka, Rovi, Sage, Sanofi-Aventis, Sunovion, Takeda, and Viatris outside the submitted work. AG-P has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Alter, Angelini, Novartis, Rovi, Takeda, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CIBERSAM), the Ministry of Science (Carlos III Institute), the Basque Government, and the European Framework Program of Research. IZ has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Angelini, Rovi and Takeda. MPG-P has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria/grants from Alter, Angelini, Cassen-Recordati, Janssen- Cilag, Idorsia, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Rovi, and SAGE Therapeutics. PS has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria or grants from Adamed, Alter Medica, Angelini Pharma, CIBERSAM, Ethypharm Digital Therapy, European Commission, Government of the Principality of Asturias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Johnson & Johnson, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas, and Servier. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Confirmatory factor analysis of the original structure of CTQ-SF with items distributed into five standard subscales. CTQ-SF, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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