Psychometric Assessment of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 Brief Form in a Clinical Sample of Turkish Youth

Childhood trauma is a significant public health concern linked to increased psychiatric morbidity. In clinical practice, timely and accurate identification of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children is essential, yet comprehensive diagnostic assessments are often time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, there is a need for brief, reliable screening tools adapted for diverse populations. The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 Brief Form (RI-5-BF) is one such tool, though its use in non-Western contexts remains understudied. This study examined the psychometric properties of the RI-5-BF in a Turkish clinical sample of children exposed to at least one traumatic event. The RI-5-BF demonstrated strong internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and diagnostic accuracy. These findings support its utility as a culturally appropriate, efficient screening measure for identifying children in need of further PTSD assessment and intervention.