A study conducted at CIMCYC–UGR confirms that the International Trauma Questionnaire is a reliable tool for detecting the psychological consequences of intimate partner violence against women.
Violence against women perpetrated by a partner or former partner does not only leave physical marks, but also deep psychological consequences that can persist for years. Among these, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) stands out as a diagnosis recognized by the World Health Organization. CPTSD includes symptoms such as re-experiencing traumatic events, avoidance, a persistent sense of current threat, affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and difficulties in relationships with other people.
A recent study carried out by researchers from the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) at the University of Granada represents an important step forward in improving the assessment of this problem in this population. The study analyses the psychometric properties of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), a brief instrument designed to assess post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and CPTSD according to ICD-11 criteria, in a sample of 340 women survivors of intimate partner violence from different regions of Spain.
Having reliable assessment tools is essential both for psychological care and for research. Clinical questionnaires allow professionals to identify the presence and severity of psychological symptoms. However, not all instruments perform equally well across populations. Until now, the ITQ had not been specifically validated in women survivors of intimate partner violence in Spain, despite this group being particularly exposed to interpersonal, repeated and difficult-to-escape traumatic experiences, often within a close bond with the perpetrator.
The results of the study show that the ITQ demonstrates high reliability and validity in this population. In other words, the questionnaire consistently measures the symptoms it is intended to assess and shows appropriate associations with other mental health measures, such as anxiety and depression. In addition, the analysis of the internal structure of the instrument confirms that CPTSD symptoms are organized into different components, reflecting both classic trauma responses and more profound alterations in affective dysregulation, self-concept and interpersonal relationships.
From a clinical perspective, these findings have important implications. Having a validated instrument in the Spanish context enables psychology and mental health professionals to more accurately identify PTSD and CPTSD in women who have experienced intimate violence by former partners. This may contribute to better tailoring of therapeutic interventions to individuals’ specific needs, helping to avoid underdiagnosis or overly broad clinical interpretations.
The study was conducted in collaboration with support centres and associations for women survivors of intimate partner violence in several regions of Spain and is part of a broader line of research at CIMCYC aimed at understanding the psychological consequences of interpersonal violence and improving assessment and treatment tools. Data were collected between 2019 and 2022, with the voluntary participation of adult women who had experienced different forms of violence (psychological, physical and/or sexual).
In a social context in which intimate partner violence remains a major public health problem, advancing the detection and understanding of its psychological effects is essential. Studies such as this contribute to providing more precise tools to support, understand and better care for people who have lived through traumatic experiences, reinforcing the role of research in improving mental health care from a gender-sensitive and socially informed perspective.
Reference
Fernández-Fillol, C., Perez-Garcia, M., & Hidalgo-Ruzzante, N. (2025). Psychometric Properties of the ITQ for Measuring ICD-11 Complex PTSD in a Spanish Sample of Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. Violence Against Women, 10778012251320585. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012251320585
Contact at the CIMCYC
Natalia Hidalgo Ruzzante - nhidalgo@ugr.es