PERITRAUMATIC DISTRESS INVENTORY IN THE COURSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The context of the present study was the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become an unprecedented global health emergency inducing a considerable degree of uncertainty, fear, concern, and worry. Peritraumatic reactions may contribute to the development of Acute Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the prediction of full PTSD. The aim of this study was to validate the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) in a Greek sample during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and explore its association with PTSD as assessed by PTSD-8. A total of 2,827 patients completed the PDI along with validated scales measuring post-traumatic, anxiety and depressive symptoms. CFA confirmed both the unifactorial model, with modest fit, and the bifactorial model of PDI with acceptable fit in the Greek sample. The three- and the four-factor models were not supported. Overall, the scale demonstrated good psychometric properties in the Greek population and can be considered a useful instrument to assess elevated stress during traumatic crises.