Despite the four factor model of PTSD proposed in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) has received a better empirical support than three factor model of DSM-IV (APA, 1994), some alternative models proposed can provide a better representation of PTSD's latent structure.

The current study tested the fit of seven models, including the 3-factor DSM-IV model (APA, 1994), the 4-factor DSM-5 model (APA, 2000), the 4-factor dysphoria model (Simms, Watson & Doebbeling, 2002), the 5-factor dysphoric arousal model (Elhai et al., 2012), the 6-factor anhedonia model (Liu et al., 2014), the 6-factor externalizing behaviors model (Tsai et al., 2014) and the 7-factor hybrid model (Armour et al., 2015) that combines key features of the anhedonia and externalizing behaviors models.

It expected that the 7-factor hybrid model (Armour et al., 2015) would be the best fitting model.

PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Global Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (EGEP-5; Crespo, Gómez & Soberón, 2016) in a sample of 165 victims of different traumatic events. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFAs) were conducted on each of the seven models using Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimation method.

All the models tested (except for DSM-IV model) yielded an adequate fit to the data. However, 7-factor hybrid model (Armour et al., 2015) provided a better fit than other competing models.

The current findings suggest that the dimensional structure of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms may be best represented by the 7 factors proposed in the hybrid model instead of 4 factors of DSM-5.

References not available.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.