INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA QUESTIONNAIRE (ITQ): ADAPTATION TO SINHALESE

Abstract

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have significant implications on mental health. While active symptoms of PTSD are readily identifiable, more chronic symptoms may often go unnoticed. The ICD 11th version, which recognizes Complex PTSD, provides clinicians with the ability to recognize the long-term effects of trauma. Sri Lanka as a nation has experienced many traumatic events in recent history. However, the diagnosis of cases of C- PTSD has been low and relevant statistics are unavailable. There are no tools to diagnose C-PTSD in Sinhalese, which hinders diagnosis and ascertainment of incidence in Sri Lanka, although clinical experience suggests that there are many individuals with symptoms of long-term trauma. Since the majority of the Sri Lankan population uses Sinhalese as their first language, the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), which is deemed the gold standard of the measurement of Complex-PTSD, was adapted to Sinhalese. The translation of the ITQ into Sinhalese was carried out by two psychologists. This produced two independently translated versions. A panel of five experts synthesized these into a single translated version. Subsequently, it was evaluated for clarity and relevance by another panel of experts. The translated ITQ was administered to 15 individuals, and feedback was obtained on the comprehensibility of each item. Following this, the services of a professional translator were obtained for the back translation of the Sinhala ITQ. Finalizing the final version of the Sinhala ITQ was carried out after obtaining feedback from the original authors of the tool. The Sinhalese adaptation of the ITQ is suitable to be use with Sinhalese-speaking populations with an average education.