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Short screening scale for DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder
N Breslau1, E L Peterson, R C Kessler
1Department of Psychiatry, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA. nbresla1@hfhs.org
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|June 9, 1999
Summary
Researchers developed a brief, seven-symptom screening scale for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This efficient tool accurately identifies potential PTSD cases in large studies.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Psychological Assessment
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health concern.
- Accurate screening is crucial for early intervention and research.
- Existing diagnostic tools can be lengthy and resource-intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a concise screening scale for DSM-IV PTSD.
- To identify a subset of symptoms that efficiently predict PTSD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Detroit Area Survey of Trauma (N=2,181).
- Employed computer-assisted telephone interviews for data collection.
- Applied best-subset regression and ROC analysis to select screening items.
Main Results:
- A seven-symptom scale (5 avoidance/numbing, 2 hyperarousal) was identified.
- A score of 4+ demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (Sensitivity: 80%, Specificity: 97%).
- Excellent positive (71%) and negative (98%) predictive values were achieved.
Conclusions:
- The developed scale is an efficient and effective tool for screening PTSD.
- It is suitable for use in resource-limited epidemiologic and clinical settings.
- Reduces respondent burden while maintaining high accuracy.