International Trauma Questionnaire

What it measures

Measures ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) symptoms. CPTSD includes the three PTSD clusters plus three Disturbances in Self-Organisation (DSO) domains: affect dysregulation, negative self-concept, and disturbances in relationships. Freely available and widely used since ICD-11 adoption in 2018.

Response format

Likert (0–4, not at all to extremely) for symptoms; plus functional impairment items; ICD-11 algorithm applied

Representative items

• Having upsetting dreams that replay part of the experience. (Re-experiencing)
• Avoiding internal reminders of the experience such as thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations. (Avoidance)
• Being 'super-alert', watchful, or on guard. (Sense of Threat)
• When I am upset, it takes me a long time to calm down. (Affect Dysregulation)
• I feel like a failure. (Negative Self-Concept)

Usage notes & scoring

Freely available from Mark Shevlin and Philip Hyland. ICD-11 algorithm distinguishes PTSD (3 PTSD criteria) from CPTSD (PTSD + 3 DSO criteria). Particularly relevant for research on childhood trauma, prolonged trauma, and domestic violence. Use alongside the LEC-5 life events checklist.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Cloitre, M., Shevlin, M., Brewin, C.R., Bisson, J.I., Roberts, N.P., Maercker, A., Karatzias, T., & Hyland, P. (2018). The International Trauma Questionnaire: Development of a self-report measure of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 138(6), 536–546.

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