Background: The introduction of the diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) by ICD-11 is a turning point in the field of traumatic stress studies. It's therefore important to examine the validity of CPTSD in refugee groups exposed to complex trauma (CT) defined as a repeated, prolonged, interpersonal traumatic event. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare DSM-5 and ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses and to evaluate the discriminant validity of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD constructs in a sample of treatment-seeking refugees living in Italy. Method: The study sample included 120 treatment-seeking African refugees living in Italy. All participants were survivors of at least one CT. PTSD and CPTSD diagnoses were assessed according to both DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria. Results: Findings revealed that 79% of the participants met the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD, 38% for ICD-11 PTSD and 30% for ICD-11 CPTSD. Generally, ICD-11 CPTSD items evidenced strong sensitivity and negative predictive power, low specificity and positive predictive power. Latent class analysis results identified two distinct groups: (1) a PTSD class, (2) a CPTSD class. None of the demographic and trauma-related variables analysed was significantly associated with diagnostic group. On the other hand, the months spent in Italy were significantly associated with PCL-5 score. Conclusions: Findings extend the current evidence base to support the discriminant validity of PTSD and CPTSD amongst refugees exposed to torture and other gross violations of human rights. The results suggest also that, in the post-traumatic phase, the time spent in a 'safe place' condition contributes to improve the severity of post-traumatic symptomatology, but neither this variable nor other socio-demographic factors seem to contribute to the emergence of complex PTSD. Further investigations are needed to clarify which specific vulnerability factors influence the development of PTSD or CPTSD in refugees exposed to complex trauma.

This study explored the agreement and discrepancy between mother and child reports of children's anxiety symptoms and anxiety life interference. A large community sample of 1,065 Portuguese children aged between 7 and 14 years and their mothers completed a DSM-based anxiety symptoms scale. For a subsample of 135 children with an anxiety disorder, additional data on children's anxiety life interference and maternal anxiety and depression symptoms were collected. The results showed that children generally reported higher levels of anxiety symptoms than their mothers. Overall, most correlations between mother and child reports of anxiety symptoms were significant but in the low to moderate range, with the strongest associations for symptoms of specific phobias and school phobia. In the subsample of children with an anxiety disorder, mothers reported higher levels of anxiety life interference than children, and the correlation between mother and child reports of anxiety life interference was significant but again modest in magnitude. Lastly, maternal anxiety was positively associated with the discrepancy between mother and child reports of anxiety symptoms. Together, the results of this study further underline the importance of a multi-informant approach in the evaluation of children's anxiety problems.

The FRIENDS for Life program is a cognitive-behavioral group program that targets anxiety in children. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of the Portuguese version of the FRIENDS for Life Program, which was implemented in schools to reduce anxiety problems in a group of highly anxious children. The study used a quasi-experimental research design with two groups of children, an intervention (n = 17) and a wait-list control group (n = 21), aged 8 to 12 years old.

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent among school-aged children. These disorders become chronic in a substantial proportion of youths and cause signifi cant interference with daily functioning. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale -Parent and Child versions (CALIS-P and CALIS-C). The sample consisted of 132 children between the ages of 7 and 12 with a main diagnosis of anxiety disorder and their parents. A factor analysis of the CALIS-P yielded three factors that agreed with the hypothesised subscales of At Home, Outside Home and Parent Life interference. For the CALIS-C, a factor analysis yielded two factors corresponding to Close Relationships and Performance interference that did not match the subscales of the original version. The internal consistency of the various CALIS subscales was good. Finally, evidence was found for both convergent and divergent validity. The CALIS scores were also signifi cantly correlated with another measure of interference. The results provide initial support that the Portuguese version of the CALIS is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of the impact of anxiety on child and family functioning. Keywords: Childhood, anxiety disorders, life interference, assessment. ResumoAs perturbações de ansiedade são altamente prevalentes entre crianças em idade escolar. Estas perturbações tendem a seguir um curso crónico e interferem signifi cativamente no funcionamento diário dos jovens. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi examinar as propriedades psicométricas da versão Portuguesa da Escala de Interferência da Ansiedade na Vida da Criança -versões para Pais e Crianças (CALIS-P e CALIS-C). Participaram 132 crianças, com idades entre os 7 e 12 anos, com diagnóstico principal de ansiedade, e seus respetivos pais. A análise fatorial da CALIS-P revelou três fatores que coincidem com as subescalas hipotetizadas: Interferência Em Casa, Fora de Casa e na Vida da Família. Para a CALIS-C, a análise fatorial revelou dois fatores que dizem respeito à Interferência nas Relações Próximas e no Desempenho, que não correspondem às subescalas da versão original. Os estudos psicométricos mostraram uma boa consistência interna para as várias subescalas da CALIS e boas qualidades na validade convergente e divergente. Foi observada ainda uma correlação signifi cativa entre os resultados da CALIS e outra medida de interferência. Estes resultados sugerem que a versão portuguesa da CALIS é uma medida confi ável e válida para a avaliação do impacto da ansiedade na criança e no funcionamento familiar. Palavras-chave: Infância, perturbações de ansiedade, interferência, avaliação.