The PTSD interview: rationale, description, reliability, and concurrent validity of a DSM-III-based technique

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychological Assessment
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis requires standardized assessment tools.
• Existing instruments may not fully meet clinical and research requirements for PTSD assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I), a novel instrument for diagnosing PTSD.
• To ensure the PTSD-I aligns with DSM-III criteria, offers detailed symptom output, is administrable by trained personnel, and possesses strong reliability and validity.

Main Methods:

• The PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) was developed based on DSM-III criteria.
• Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and correlations with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) were assessed.
• The instrument's performance was compared against established PTSD measures and scales.

Main Results:

• The PTSD-I demonstrated excellent internal consistency (alpha = .92) and test-retest reliability (Total score r = .95).
• High correlations were found with DIS criteria, including strong sensitivity (.89) and specificity (.94).
• Previous studies indicated correlations with military stress and MMPI PTSD subscales.

Conclusions:

• The PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) is a highly reliable and valid instrument for PTSD assessment.
• It meets rigorous criteria for diagnostic accuracy, symptom measurement, and ease of administration.
• The PTSD-I appears to be a unique tool fulfilling all specified developmental criteria for PTSD diagnosis.