Eichstatt

Researchers are evaluating the PTSD-iMPACT questionnaire, a new tool designed to measure the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related functional impairment in children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years. This study aims to validate the questionnaire's reliability and validity in both clinical and non-clinical populations in Switzerland and Germany. The need for this tool arises because PTSD and its symptoms often disrupt key areas of young people's lives, such as social interactions, schooling, and daily activities, but no widely accepted instrument currently exists to specifically assess these impairments. The study involves three versions of the PTSD-iMPACT questionnaire: self-report for children and adolescents aged 7 to 18, and caregiver-report for children aged 3 to 6 and 7 to 18. Participants complete the questionnaires either digitally or on paper, with some receiving assistance via phone or video calls for younger children. Data collection occurs in clinical settings, such as hospitals and mental health centers, and non-clinical settings like schools and kindergartens. Participants in clinical groups complete the questionnaire twice, two weeks apart, to assess test-retest reliability, while non-clinical participants complete it once. After data analysis, the final questionnaire and a user manual will be made freely available to support routine care. Participants and caregivers provide information through surveys covering PTSD symptoms, emotional and behavioral problems, quality of life, and functional impairment. The study tracks psychometric properties including internal consistency, validity, and factor structure of the questionnaire. Safety monitoring includes offering contact information for mental health support and ensuring voluntary participation with confidentiality. The total time commitment for clinical participants is about 40 minutes for the first assessment and 15 minutes for the follow-up. The study's design and procedures aim to produce a reliable, clinically useful tool to improve care for trauma-exposed children and adolescents.