Development of a composite trauma exposure risk index

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic life adversities and trauma are prevalent but often unassessed in primary care.
• A brief, multidimensional mental health risk screening tool is needed for primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Life Adversities Screener (LADS).
• To create a tool for identifying individuals at high risk for mental health problems in primary care.

Main Methods:

• Pooled data from 4 studies were used to identify 5 mental health risk domains.
• Regression models for depression and PTSD were fitted to develop a weighted scale score.
• Confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory, and ROC analysis were employed for validation.

Main Results:

• The UCLA LADS demonstrated a 5-domain structure and predictive utility for depression and anxiety.
• An optimal cut-off score of 0.33 was identified for high-risk classification.
• The screener effectively identified individuals meeting clinical thresholds for depression or anxiety.

Conclusions:

• The UCLA LADS is a valid and easy-to-administer tool for primary care settings.
• It can identify racial minority individuals with high trauma burdens needing further evaluation.
• The LADS can improve early detection and intervention for mental health conditions.