DSM-5 and ICD-11 PTSD: A Study of Internally Displaced Person's in Ukraine

There are over 40 million internally displaced person's (IDPs) in the world, and 1.8 million IDPs in Ukraine. In this study, ICD-11 and DSM-5 PTSD prevalence and comorbidity rates were compared using a large, representative sample of Ukrainian adult IDPs. This study had four aims: (1) to compare the prevalence rates of ICD-11 and DSM-5 PTSD, (2) to determine gender differences in PTSD prevalence for DSM-5 and ICD-11, (3) to compare levels of disability across the two diagnostic systems, and (4) to determine the degree of comorbidity associated with ICD-11 and DSM-5 PTSD. A representative sample of adult Ukrainian IDPs (IDPs: N = 2,203) were assess using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the International Trauma Questionnaire for ICD-11. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-Depression. Disability was measured using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Significantly more people were diagnosed with PTSD according to the DSM-5 (27.4%) as compared to the ICD-11 (21.0%). PTSD rates for females were significantly higher using both criteria. ICD-11 PTSD was associated with significantly higher levels of disability and comorbidity. The ICD-11 diagnosis of PTSD appears to be particularly well suited to identifying those with clinically relevant levels of disability.