Alice Einloft Brunnet

Psychometric Properties of the Child Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory in a Sample of Brazilian Children

Cognitive models of trauma propose that maladaptive cognitions in children and adolescents are causally implicated in the unfolding and maintenance of posttraumatic response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Child Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (CPTCI). The sample included 131 children and adolescents. The psychometric properties of the CPTCI were examined, including reliability and convergent validity. The results showed high internal consistency for both CPTCI total scale (α = .90) and its subscales (CPTCI–PC α = .88 and CPTCI–SW α = .79) and a 2-component solution explaining 37.63% of the variance of CPTCI. Convergent validity evidence was obtained through correlations with the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children and Children’s Depression Inventory. Findings suggest that CPTCI instruments are reliable and had adequate evidence of validity.

Prevalence and factors associated with PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms in Haitian migrants in southern Brazil:

Background: Prevalence rates of mental health disorders in migrants are controversial. The socio-historical and economic background of the host country may play an important role in the mental health status of migrants. As studies are mostly conducted in developed countries, researching migration in developing countries may add important information to scientific literature. Aims: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression symptoms in Haitian migrants in southern Brazil. Methods: The sample comprises 66 participants selected from four different sites in three cities of a Brazilian southern state. Participants fulfilled a sociodemographic questionnaire, as well as instruments investigate traumatic events; post-migration difficulties and symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. Linear regression models were utilized to investigate factors associated with PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms. Results: PTSD prevalence in the sample was 9.1%. Depression and anxiety symptoms were in the clinical range of 10.6%–13.6% of participants, respectively. A number of traumatic events, acculturation difficulties, discrimination and low social support were associated with the investigated mental health disorders. Conclusion: The results point to the importance of public policies in promoting better social and mental health support for migrants. Providing information to the Brazilian population about migration may improve receptiveness in the host society.

Translation and adaptation of the Child Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (cPTCI) to Brazilian Portuguese

INTRODUCTION Experiencing a traumatic event is a risk factor for the development of mental illness, especially posttraumatic stress disorder. A childs appraisals of a traumatic event may play a prominent role in the development or maintenance of the disorder. Therefore, subjective responses should be evaluated to understand the impact of a traumatic event on a childs life. This study translated and adapted the Child Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (cPTCI) for use in linguistic and cultural contexts in Brazil. METHODS The process included translation, back-translation, language expert evaluation and expert committees evaluation. RESULTS Content validity index scores were good for all dimensions after evaluation by two judges and one reformulation. The back-translation of the final version also showed that the cPTCI items in Brazilian Portuguese maintained the same meanings of the original in English. This version was tested in a sample of the target population, and all the items were above the cut-off point (minimum = 3.6; maximum = 4.0). CONCLUSIONS This study was successful in producing a Brazilian version of the cPTCI. Further studies are underway to examine the reliability and the factorial and concurrent validity of cPTCI subscales.

Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse

This study evaluated the discriminative ability of behavioral and psychological indicators often associated with child sexual abuse. The sample consisted of 79 children of both genders, 63.3% being female (n = 50), aged between 8 and 12 years (M = 9.92, SD = 1.45). Participants were assigned to three groups: Sexual abuse (n = 34), Maltreatment with no history of sexual abuse (n = 14) and Clinical symptoms with no history of abuse or other traumatic events (n = 31). Assessment measures were administered with the legal guardians and with the children. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted aiming to identify factors for differentiation of the groups. The TSCC Sexual concerns variable emerged as signifi cant in differentiating the Sexual abuse group from both the Maltreatment and Clinical symptoms groups. The model showed overall predictive ability to accurately classify 69.6% of the cases. The investigation of this variable should be included, among other indicators, in forensic procedures for children with suspected sexual abuse. Based on the results, it becomes clear that caution is required in establishing causal relationships between behavioral or psychological manifestations and the hypothesis of child sexual abuse.