Spanish-version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in health-workers

Background The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adapted to meet DSM-5 criteria. Establishing a validated online version for Spanish-speaking populations, particularly among healthcare professionals, is essential to ensure accurate assessment aligned with these updated criteria. Aim The purpose is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the online Spanish version of the PCL-5 for healthcare professionals exposed to the COVID-19 health emergency. Methods The study involved 1543 Peruvian healthcare professionals aged 20 to 70 recruited through a virtual platform. In addition to the PCL-5, instruments were administered to assess depressive symptoms (assessed by PHQ-9) and anxious symptoms (assessed by GAD-7). Results The results showed that the 7-factor model presented the best fit among all models (CFI=0.967; TLI=0.958; SRMR=0.030; RMSEA[CI90%]=0.062 [0.057-0.067]) and met the measurement invariance across sexes, age groups, and educational levels, with adequate values of internal consistency (ΔCFI<0.01; ΔRMSEA<0.01). Moreover, a high latent correlation was observed with depressive and anxious symptoms (≥0.60). Conclusion The online Spanish version of the PCL-5 scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing PTSD among Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals, representing the only instrument adapted to DSM-5 criteria for this population.