Confirmatory factor analysis of the PTSD checklist in the elderly

The authors examined the psychometric characteristics and factor structure of the Civilian Version of the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C; F. W. Weathers, B. T. Litz, J. A. Huska, & T. Keane, 1994) in elderly survivors, aged 66-90, of the 2004 Florida hurricane disasters. Confirmatory factor analyses of nine models of PCL-C structure revealed the strongest support for a 4-factor model consisting of reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and arousal dimensions. Future studies will be facilitated by the knowledge that the PCL-C 4-factor model appears to apply across the adult age range and a variety of posttraumatic stress disorder-producing conditions.