An abbreviated version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the CD-RISC2: psychometric properties and applications in psychopharmacological trials

Resilience may be an important component of the prevention of neuropsychiatric disease. Resilience has proved to be quantifiable by scales such as the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Here, we introduce a two-item version of this scale, the CD-RISC2. We hypothesize that this shortened version of the scale has internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and divergent validity as well as significant correlation with the full scale. Additionally, we hypothesize that the CD-RISC2 can be used to assess pharmacological modification of resilience. We test these hypotheses by utilizing data from treatment trials of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder with setraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine XR, and kava as well as data from the general population, psychiatric outpatients, and family medicine clinic patients.     

持续性心理疏导护理对脑梗死合并糖尿病患者失能"非失智"状况的效果

目的研究分析持续性心理疏导护理对脑梗死合并糖尿病患者失能"非失智"状况的干预效果。方法选取2018年06月~2020年01月我院收治的150例脑梗死合并糖尿病患者为主要研究对象,按随机数字表法将研究对象随机分为研究组和对照组,每组各75例。对照组75例患者给予常规护理,研究组75例患者在对照组基础上给予持续性心理疏导护理。对比干预前后两组患者的抑郁自评量表(SDS)、焦虑自评量表(SAS)、匹茨堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)评分、Barthel指数评定量表评分、FuglMeyer评定量表(FMA)评分、心理弹性量表(CD-RISC)评分。结果干预后,研究组患者的SAS、SDS和PSQI评分低于对照组(P<0.05),Barthel指数、FMA评分和CD-RISC评分高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论持续性心理疏导能够有效缓解脑梗死合并糖尿病患者的负面情绪,改善睡眠质量,提升其心理弹性程度,进一步促进患者临床症状的恢复,值得临床推广应用。     

Traumatisme et résilience associés à la pandémie de la COVID-19 dans les villes de Bafoussam et de Dschang au Cameroun

IntroductionThe emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in Cameroon, as in Africa and around the world, was marked by a suddenness and unpredictability that fascinated the imagination. The considerable psychic and social repercussions of the pandemic mobilized a significant anguish of death. The sudden onset of the pandemic was followed by spectacular, high-profile deaths that fascinated the imagination, listing it in the order of traumatic events, provoking reactions of astonishment, flight and avoidance.GoalThe objective of this study is to determine the symptomatology of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the resilience, associated with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western Region of Cameroon.MethodologyThe research was carried out following the model of general population mental health surveys. The availability of area frames (sampling) made it possible to opt for probabilistic calculations. First and second year master's students in clinical psychology from Dschang University were involved in data collection. They benefited from a two-day seminar on data collection techniques in the general population. The calculated sample size is 384 households. The anticipated response rate, set at 90%, made it possible to increase robustness and to anticipate a total sample of 424 households, spread over 3 districts of Bafoussam and Dschang, according to the choice previously made. The study followed the ethical provisions of the Helsinki Protocol. The data collection tools used are: the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.Results409 subjects were recruited, representing a completion rate of 106.5%. 70.7% of subjects exhibited symptoms of PTSD. These symptoms are more often mild (40.9%) or moderate (25.6%). Women are more affected (73.7%) by PTSD than men (67.9%). In addition to sex and age, area of residence and marital status, appear to be significantly associated with symptoms of PTSD: subjects under 35 years of age have a significantly higher prevalence rate than those over 35; the rate of PTSD is significantly higher in subjects living in urban areas than in those living in rural areas; single subjects are more affected by PTSD (40.1%) than married subjects (26.7%). The average score recorded on the CD-RISC is 64.3, the standard deviation is 15.3 and the coefficient of variation is 24%. This average falls into the second quartile of the distribution, indicating average resilience. CD-RISC scores are not affected by gender, age, marital status, level of education, or occupational status. These characteristics are therefore not factors of resilience.ConclusionThe Covid-19 pandemic has had a psychological impact in Cameroon which has made it a major psychosocial stressor. More than 6 in 10 people have symptoms of PTSD. But this symptomatology is often weak or moderate, testifying to an effective resilience, to balance the traumatic effects of the pandemic.     

Predictors of self-reported resilience in parents of autistic children

BackgroundThough an emerging evidence base has documented the elevated stress and unique challenges among parents of autistic children, less is known about resilience. Based on the resilience-stress model (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013; Masten, 2011), resilience may be a promising area of investigation given its inverse relationship with stress.MethodFifty parents of autistic children (4:0–10:11 years) self-reported resilience on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and completed additional questionnaires, which were categorized into three classes of predictors: psychological functioning, child factors and parenting stress, and positive mental health practices. Regression analyses were conducted to identify the amount of variance in CD-RISC scores explained by the overall model and each class of predictors. The relative strength of individual predictors was investigated.ResultsThe overall model accounted for 66% of the variance in self-reported resilience scores. Two classes of predictors were significant – psychological functioning and positive mental health practices – while child factors and parenting stress were not. Specifically, the class of psychological functioning variables accounted for 45% of the variance in resilience scores and positive mental health practices accounted for an additional 19%. The individual predictors of anxiety, stress, optimism, and self-compassion were the most robust.ConclusionsFindings indicate that certain factors – anxiety, stress, optimism, and self-compassion – are important in understanding self-reported resilience among some parents of autistic children. This may suggest treatment targets for resilience interventions. Continued investigations with larger, more representative samples are needed to expand the present findings.     

Measuring resilience in women experiencing infertility using the CD-RISC: Examining infertility-related stress, general distress, and coping styles

Psychological morbidity concurrent with fertility problems has been the focus of substantial scientific inquiry. However, researchers have largely overlooked psychological resilience within this population. This study explored the associations between resilience, infertility-related and general distress, and coping behaviors in forty women from nine fertility clinics throughout the United States. Participants completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Beck-Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), and Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). Women with fertility problems evidenced significantly lower resilience scores than published norms. This study established evidence for the reliability and convergent validity of the CD-RISC with infertile populations. However, similar to other studies using this instrument, the factor structure reported by Connor and Davidson [Connor KM, Davidson JR. Development of a new resilience scale: the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety 2003;18:76-82] was not well supported. Resilience was negatively associated with infertility-specific and general distress. Engagement in action-focused coping skills was positively correlated with resilience. Implications for enhancing resilience with this population as are discussed.     

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale

Objective

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) measures various aspects of psychological resilience in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric ailments. This study sought to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (K-CD-RISC).

Methods

In total, 576 participants were enrolled (497 females and 79 males), including hospital nurses, university students, and firefighters. Subjects were evaluated using the K-CD-RISC, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were examined as a measure of reliability, and convergent validity and factor analysis were also performed to evaluate validity.

Results

Cronbach''s α coefficient and test-retest reliability were 0.93 and 0.93, respectively. The total score on the K-CD-RISC was positively correlated with the RSES (r=0.56, p<0.01). Conversely, BDI (r=-0.46, p<0.01), PSS (r=-0.32, p<0.01), and IES-R scores (r=-0.26, p<0.01) were negatively correlated with the K-CD-RISC. The K-CD-RISC showed a five-factor structure that explained 57.2% of the variance.

Conclusion

The K-CD-RISC showed good reliability and validity for measurement of resilience among Korean subjects.     

Measurement and predictors of resilience among community-dwelling older women

BackgroundResilience, the ability to adapt positively to adversity, may be an important factor in successful aging. However, the assessment and correlates of resilience in elderly individuals have not received adequate attention.MethodA total of 1395 community-dwelling women over age 60 who were participants at the San Diego Clinical Center of the Women’s Health Initiative completed the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), along with other scales pertinent to successful cognitive aging. Internal consistency and predictors of the CD-RISC were examined, as well as the consistency of its factor structure with published reports.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 73 (7.2) years and 14% were Hispanic, 76% were non-Hispanic white, and nearly all had completed a high school education (98%). The mean total score on the CD-RISC was 75.7 (sd = 13.0). This scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92). Exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors (somewhat different from those previously reported among younger adults) that reflected items involving: (1) personal control and goal orientation, (2) adaptation and tolerance for negative affect, (3) leadership and trust in instincts, and (4) spiritual coping. The strongest predictors of CD-RISC scores in this study were higher emotional well-being, optimism, self-rated successful aging, social engagement, and fewer cognitive complaints.ConclusionsOur study suggests that the CD-RISC is an internally consistent scale for assessing resilience among older women, and that greater resilience as assessed by the CD-RISC related positively to key components of successful aging.     

Resilient but addicted: The impact of resilience on the relationship between smoking withdrawal and PTSD

Nicotine use is common among people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Resilience, which is reflected in one's ability to cope with stress, has been shown to be associated with lower cigarette smoking and posttraumatic stress symptoms, but relationships among these three variables have not been examined. This study investigates the relationships of resilience and nicotine withdrawal with each other and in relation to PTSD symptoms. Participants were 118 cigarette smokers with PTSD seeking treatment for PTSD and nicotine use. Data were randomly cross-sectionally sampled from three time points: week 0, week 12, and week 27 of the study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed main effects of both resilience and nicotine withdrawal symptoms on PTSD severity, controlling for the sampled time point, negative affect, and expired carbon monoxide concentration. Consistent with prior research, PTSD severity was higher among individuals who were less resilient and for those who had greater nicotine withdrawal. There was an interaction between resilience and nicotine withdrawal on self-reported PTSD severity, such that greater resilience was associated with lower PTSD severity only among participants with low nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Among individuals with high nicotine withdrawal, PTSD severity was high, regardless of resilience level. These results suggest that resilience is a protective factor for PTSD severity for those with low levels of nicotine withdrawal, but at high levels of nicotine withdrawal, the protective function of resilience is mitigated.     

The Chinese version of the Davidson Trauma Scale: a practice test for validation

The Chinese version of the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS-C) was developed to respond to the need of Chinese-speaking individuals. The DTS is a validated self-rating scale used in the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The DTS-C is translated from DTS through a two-stage translation. Subjects were drawn from a sample of 210 survivors of the 21 September 1999, Chi-Chi Earthquake. The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.97) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.88). Concurrent validity was obtained against the clinical diagnostic interview, with a diagnostic accuracy of 0.85 at DTS-C score of 44. It showed that the sensitivity was 0.9, specificity 0.81, positive likelihood ratio 4.74, and negative likelihood ratio 0.12. The recommended stratum-specific likelihood ratios were 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05-0.20) for the score range 0-39, 4 (2.22-7.23) for the score range of 40-59, and 6.14 (3.42-11.02) for the scores above 60. In PTSD diagnosed subjects, the factor structures closely resembled the DSM-IV grouping of PTSD symptoms. The psychometric strength of DTS-C is reliable for its future use, particularly for screening for subjects with possible diagnosis of PTSD.     

Measurement and predictors of resilience among community-dwelling older women

Background

Resilience, the ability to adapt positively to adversity, may be an important factor in successful aging. However, the assessment and correlates of resilience in elderly individuals have not received adequate attention.

Method

A total of 1395 community-dwelling women over age 60 who were participants at the San Diego Clinical Center of the Women’s Health Initiative completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), along with other scales pertinent to successful cognitive aging. Internal consistency and predictors of the CD-RISC were examined, as well as the consistency of its factor structure with published reports.

Results

The mean age of the cohort was 73 (7.2) years and 14% were Hispanic, 76% were non-Hispanic white, and nearly all had completed a high school education (98%). The mean total score on the CD-RISC was 75.7 (sd = 13.0). This scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92). Exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors (somewhat different from those previously reported among younger adults) that reflected items involving: (1) personal control and goal orientation, (2) adaptation and tolerance for negative affect, (3) leadership and trust in instincts, and (4) spiritual coping. The strongest predictors of CD-RISC scores in this study were higher emotional well-being, optimism, self-rated successful aging, social engagement, and fewer cognitive complaints.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the CD-RISC is an internally consistent scale for assessing resilience among older women, and that greater resilience as assessed by the CD-RISC related positively to key components of successful aging.     

The relationship between morningness-eveningness and resilience in mood disorder patients

BackgroundThere is some evidence that resilience is related to mental illness. Patients with a mood disorder have a tendency to show eveningness, and they tend to be less resilient. However, no study has investigated the association between resilience and morningness-eveningness in patients with a mood disorder. The aim of this study was to explore whether morningness-eveningness is related to resilience in patients with a mood disorder.MethodsWe recruited 224 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 77 with bipolar disorder (BD), and 958 control participants. Morningness-eveningness and resilience were evaluated using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), respectively.ResultsThe CD-RISC scores were significantly lower in patients with MDD, followed by those with BD, than those of the control group. The CD-RISC score was positively correlated with the CS score in patients with MDD and BD. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the CS score was significantly associated with the CD-RISC score after controlling for the possible influence of age, gender, length of education, economic status, onset age, and suicide attempt history in the MDD group. However, the association did not reach statistical significance in patients with BD.ConclusionsHigher resilience was positively correlated with morningness in patients with MDD or BD. In multiple regression analysis, a significant linear relationship was observed between resilience and morningness only in patients with MDD. The biological mechanism underlying the relationship between morningness-eveningness and resilience should be explored.     

Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale among Chinese adolescents

Objectives

Resilience refers to psychological characteristics that promote effective coping and positive adaptation in adversity. This study investigated the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) among adolescents.

Methods

A total of 2914 Chinese adolescents living in Chengdu, Sichuan, completed the CD-RISC 1 month after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. They also self-administered the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Children's Depression Inventory, and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. With confirmatory factor analysis, various factor structures of the CD-RISC reported in previous studies (eg, the 5- and 3-factor models) were examined at the first-order level; and a single factor of resilience was investigated at the second-order level in this sample. The internal consistency and concurrent validity were investigated. Sex and age differences were also examined.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis results showed that the 5-factor model originally derived among US community adults was replicated in our sample, and these 5 factors also loaded on a higher-order “resilience” factor. The Cronbach α coefficient was 0.89. The resilience scores demonstrated expected positive correlation with social support (r = 0.44) and negative correlations with depression (r = −0.38) and anxiety (r = −0.25) (Ps < .001). Male participants reported higher resilience scores than female participants, and younger participants also reported higher resilience scores than older participants.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the CD-RISC was demonstrated to be a reliable and valid measurement in assessing resilience among Chinese adolescents.     

Psychometric properties of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale in Chinese earthquake victims

Aim: Resilience refers to positive adaption in the face of stress or trauma. Assessing resilience is crucial in trauma‐related research and practice. The 10‐item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD‐RISC) has been demonstrated to be a valid and reliable tool to achieve this goal. This study was designed to examine the psychometric properties of the 10‐item CD‐RISC in a sample of Chinese earthquake victims. Methods: A total of 341 participants (185 women, 156 men) aged 20–63 years were recruited from a psychological relief program supported by the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences following the ‘Wenchuan’ earthquake. The participants were given the 10‐item CD‐RISC and the 17‐item post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subscale of the Los Angeles Symptom Checklist (LASC) 4 months after the earthquake. Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated that a single‐factor model consistent with the original design of the 10‐item CD‐RISC was support. The scale was also demonstrated to have good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and test–retest reliability (r = 0.90 for a two‐week interval). Scores on the scale could reflect different levels of resilience in populations that are thought to be differentiated (probable PTSD vs healthy controls, t(339) = ?7.60, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.84). Moreover, the total resilience scores were significantly negatively correlated with scores on total PTSD scale and its three subscales for all participants. Conclusion: The Chinese version of the 10‐item CD‐RISC has excellent psychometric properties, and is applicable for Chinese people.     

Adjunctive risperidone in the treatment of chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of risperidone was evaluated in veteran patients with chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were referred to a residential treatment program. METHODS: Seventy-three subjects volunteered to participate in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which comprised of a 5 week residential program followed by a 3-month outpatient follow-up. Risperidone was added to a stable psychotropic medication regimen in 92% of subjects. Primary outcome measures were the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale (CAPS-total) and its three subscales; B (Re-experiencing), C (Avoidance) and D (Arousal). Secondary outcome measures were the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D) scales, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Positive Subscale (PANSS-P). RESULTS: Sixty-five subjects were randomized and 48 completed the 4-month study. Significantly greater improvement in symptoms was observed in subjects receiving risperidone compared to placebo on the CAPS-total and CAPS-D subscale scores and also on HAM-A and PANSS-P. Numerically greater improvements in all the remaining measures were noted with risperidone, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Risperidone was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adjunctive risperidone improved a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic combat-related PTSD. The data support the concept that atypical antipsychotic medications may have a wider therapeutic spectrum that goes beyond the treatment of psychosis.     

Development of a patient-reported assessment to identify placebo responders in a generalized anxiety disorder trial

Placebo response is thought to be a primary contributor to uninformative (failed) trials in clinical drug development. This study describes the development of a patient-reported assessment to detect likely placebo responders. A novel scale, the Placebo Response Screening Scale (PRSS), was developed to assess domains expected to be associated with placebo response. The scale was administered during the screening visit of a 4-week, placebo-controlled study of alprazolam and an investigational compound in 211 patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Items that predicted placebo response were identified. Sensitivity and specificity of the instrument were used to determine a threshold score for use in screening likely placebo response. The PRSS was then evaluated by comparing active treatment and placebo groups and subsetting the groups based on subject PRSS scores. Twenty items were selected for being predictive of patient global improvement rating, clinician global improvement rating, or improvement on Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) scores in placebo-arm patients. Receiver operating characteristic concordance values ranged from 0.77 to 0.96 for the different definitions of placebo responder. A cut-score of 50 on a scale of 0-100 was chosen to maximize sensitivity (range 0.67-0.79) and specificity (range 0.78-1.00). Fifty-six patients with scores of 50 or higher were flagged as potential placebo responders. Excluding these 56 patients from the analysis resulted in a greater separation of active treatment from placebo. The PRSS is a promising tool for predicting placebo response in clinical trials and requires further use and validation.     

Characterization of depression in war-related posttraumatic stress disorder

OBJECTIVE: Many patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have symptoms of depression, but operationalized psychological constructs related to depression have not been used extensively in characterizing affective symptoms of PTSD. The authors' objective is to better characterize the affective component of PTSD. METHOD: The subjects were 45 male psychiatric inpatients at a Veterans Administration medical center; 28 met DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD and 17 met Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for major depressive disorder. All of the subjects with PTSD were Vietnam veterans. The 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was used to assess state measures of symptom severity, and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire was used to measure dimensions of dependency, self-criticism, and self-efficacy. RESULTS: The mean total Hamilton scale score of the patients with PTSD was nonsignificantly higher than that of the patients with major depressive disorder; patients with PTSD had higher scores on almost all individual Hamilton symptoms, particularly insomnia, somatic anxiety, and diurnal variation. Patients with PTSD had significantly higher scores on the self-criticism scale but not on the dependency and self-efficacy scales of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire. The scores of patients with PTSD on the dependency and self-criticism scales were negatively correlated. No significant differences between patients with PTSD with and without concurrent major depressive disorder were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of such depressive dimensions of PTSD as dependency and self-criticism may have important clinical implications.     

Quelles échelles utiliser pour mesurer la résilience en psychiatrie adulte ?

This communication based on a literature review, summarizes the most appropriate evaluation scales which measure resilience in adult psychiatry, and lists the principal clinical dimensions studied in the articles on the topic. The objective of this communication is to provide psychiatric institutions which receive adult patients with a list of resilience evaluation scales we consider to be the most pertinent to measure resilience in that sector.MethodThe review was done using Pubmed on articles written between 2016 and 2019, using the terms “resilience scales in psychiatry” and “resilience scales in psychology”. Two hundred and seventy-eight articles were found. Fifty articles concerning mental health in adult psychiatry more precisely were kept, and we looked at which resilience evaluation scales were most used in those researches, and which associated clinical dimensions were studied. We started by defining resilience, as defined originally in physics, and how it was then derived in psychology, notably introduced in France by Boris Cyrulnik. We then looked at how resilience is measured in adult psychiatry. Some researchers such as Wagnild used instruments specifically designed to measure resilience. Ionescu & Jourdan-Ionescu did an inventory of the instruments, and Windle, Bennett & Noyes a review.ResultAfter briefly defining what resilience is, particularly in the psychological field, we succinctly summarized the 6 scales we consider to be the most adapted for researches on resilience in adult psychiatry and listed the main clinical dimensions that have been researched in the articles we kept. These six scales, are widely used, validated and adapted to clinical psychiatry. This communication is therefore a mini guide of the most adapted resilience evaluation scales for potential future researches in adult psychiatry. The Wagnild & Young Resilience scale was validated among women aged 53 to 95 and it has a French version widely used to measure resilience among the general and clinical population. The Fryborg et al. RSA also measures adult resilience and is useful to measure protective factors against psychological disorders. The Ponce-Garcia, Madwell & Kennison SPF apprehends a complete measure of resilience and is a reliable scale among survivors of violent trauma. The Roussow & Roussow Predictive 6-Factor Resilience Scale was based on a neurobiological basis of resilience and has also a good consistence with health hygiene scores. It is considered an efficient measure to use in improving resilience. Finally, The Resilience Questionnaire for Bipolar Disorder from Echezarraga, Las Hayas, González-Pinto & Jones specifically measures resilience among a bipolar disorders population. The main clinical dimensions which figured in researches on resilience were varied and numerous. Many refer to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially among American veterans. Besides PTSD, dimensions linked to stress, depression and psychiatric disorders were also researched. Scales are the same as those used in general population. However, some are validated for a clinical population. These scales can measure the link between resilience and various clinical dimensions and disorders. This opens the door for researches in adult psychiatry using one or more of the scales described in this article.     

Psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (K-SPRINT)

Aims:  The Short Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rating Interview (SPRINT) is a validated, eight-item, brief global assessment scale for PTSD. This report investigated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the SPRINT (K-SPRINT).
Methods:  Eighty-seven PTSD patients, 47 other psychiatric patients, and 63 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. All subjects completed a psychometric assessment package that included the K-SPRINT and the Korean versions of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
Results:  The K-SPRINT showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.86) and test–retest reliability ( r  = 0.82). K-SPRINT showed moderatecorrelations with CAPS ( r  = 0.71). An exploratory factor analysis produced one K-SPRINT factor. The optimal diagnostic efficiency (91.9%) of the K-SPRINT was found at a total score of 15, at which point the sensitivity and specificity were 90.8% and 92.7%, respectively.
Conclusions:  The present findings demonstrate that the K-SPRINT had good psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of PTSD.     

Decreased suicidal ideation in depressed patients with or without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: an open study

Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with higher morbidity including suicidal ideation and behavior. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a known treatment for PTSD, MDD and comorbid PTSD and MDD. Since the patients with comorbid MDD and PTSD (PTSD-MDD) are sicker, we hypothesize a poorer response to treatment compared to patients with MDD only. Ninety-six MDD patients were included in the study: 76 with MDD only and 20 with PTSD-MDD. Demographic and clinical parameters at baseline were assessed. We examined clinical parameters before and after 3 months of open SSRI treatment in subjects with PTSD-MDD and compared this group to individuals with MDD only. At baseline, PTSD-MDD patients had higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Buss-Durkee Hostility Scale scores compared with MDD only subjects. There was a significant decrease in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation after 3 months of treatment with SSRIs in both groups. The magnitude of improvement in Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores was greater in the PTSD-MDD group compared to the MDD only subjects. Symptoms of depression including suicidal ideation improved in MDD patients with or without comorbid PTSD after 3 months of treatment with SSRIs but improvement in suicidal ideation was greater in the PTSD-MDD group. Our finding has not supported the hypothesis that a response to treatment is poorer in the PTSD-MDD group which may indicate that sicker patients benefit more from the treatment.     

Spanish validation of the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) with non-professional caregivers

Objectives: Despite the importance of resilience in populations under stress, and the fact that the 10-item version Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) is the shortest instrument for reliable and valid evaluation of resilience, there are no data on their psychometric properties in non-professional caregivers. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the spanish version of the CD-RISC 10 in non-professional caregivers.

Method: Independently trained assessors evaluated resilience, self-esteem, social support, emotional distress and depression in a sample of 294 caregivers (89.8% women, mean age 55.3 years).

Results: The internal consistency of CD-RISC 10 was α = .86. A single factor was found that accounted for 44.7% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated this unifactorial model. The CD-RISC 10 was significantly correlated with the self-esteem (r = .416, p < .001) and social support (r = .228, p < .001) scales, and the emotional distress scale (r = –.311, p < .001), though this was an inverse relationship. A score ≤ 23 was a suitable cut-off point for discriminating caregivers with depression (sensitivity = 70.0%, specificity = 68.2%).

Conclusion: The CD-RISC 10 is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate resilience in the caregiver population.