Screening for posttraumatic stress disorder in a general psychiatric outpatient setting

J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002 Aug;70(4):961-6. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.70.4.961.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may affect survivors of a number of accidents and illnesses, in addition to violence victims and combat veterans. Prior research suggests that PTSD may be underdiagnosed when trauma is not the presenting problem. Thus, a PTSD screening scale might have utility in routine clinical settings. The authors evaluated the screening performance of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) in a general psychiatric setting. Results indicated that the PDS performed as well in this setting as it did in the original trauma-focused validation studies, independent of PTSD status as a primary, versus secondary, reason for presenting. A simple cutoff score was adequate for case identification. There were no gender effects, and the scale performed equally well among patients with, versus without, a depressive diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening*
  • Mental Health Services
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*