PTSD: National Center for PTSD

International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)

Cloitre et al., 2018

Description

The ITQ is a free (public-domain) 18-item self-report measure to assess for ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD). It includes items assessing:

1. The 3 "core elements" of ICD-11 PTSD (re-experiencing in the here and now, avoidance, and sense of current threat)
2. Functional impairment related to PTSD symptoms (in social, work, or other life domains)
3. The 3 "core elements" of ICD-11 disturbances in self-organization (DSO), which are part of the criteria for complex PTSD (severe and persistent problems in affect regulation, self-concept, and relationship functioning)
4. Functional impairment related to DSO symptoms (in social, work, or other life domains)

Respondents are asked to identify "the experience that troubles you the most" along with how long ago it occurred. Then they are asked to respond to symptom and functioning questions. Items are rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely").

The ITQ can be scored to determine a provisional diagnosis or scored dimensionally. Scoring information is detailed in the measure document, available at the link below.

Sample Item

Below are problems that people who have had stressful or traumatic events sometimes experience. The questions refer to ways you typically feel, ways you typically think about yourself and ways you typically relate to others. Answer the following thinking about how true each statement is of you.

• When I am upset, it takes me a long time to calm down. ("not at all" to "extremely")

Versions

The International Trauma Consortium website provides versions in many languages as well as simplified versions in some languages (English and Chinese).

References

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. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.12956

Redican, E., Nolan, E., Hyland, P., Cloitre, M., McBride, O., Karatzias, T., Murphy, J., & Shevlin, M. (2021). A systematic literature review of factor analytic and mixture models of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 79, 102381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102381

To Obtain Scale

All language versions are available for download at https://www.traumameasuresglobal.com/itq

Measure availability: We provide information on a variety of measures assessing trauma and PTSD. These measures are intended for use by qualified mental health professionals and researchers. Measures authored by National Center staff are available as direct downloads or by request. Measures developed outside of the National Center can be requested via contact information available on the information page for the specific measure.