ASSESSMENT OF A NEW SELF-RATING SCALE FOR POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER

Background. In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) there is a need f or self-rating scales that are sensitive to treatment effects and have been tested in a broad range of trauma survivors. Separate measures o f frequency and severity may also provide an advantage. Methods. Three hundred and fifty-three men and women completed the Davidson Trauma S cale (DTS), a 17-item scale measuring each DSM-IV symptom of PTSD on 5 -point frequency and severity scales. These subjects comprised war vet erans, survivors of rape or hurricane and a mixed trauma group partici pating in a clinical trial. Other scales were included as validity che cks as follows: Global ratings, SCL-90-R, Eysenck Scale, Impact of Eve nt Scale and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. Results. The scale demonstrated good test-retest reliability (r = 0.86), internal consistency (r = 0.99). One main factor emerged for severity and a sma ller one for intrusion. In PTSD diagnosed subjects, and the factor str ucture more closely resembled the traditional grouping of symptoms. Co ncurrent validity was obtained against the SCID, with a diagnostic acc uracy of 83 % at a DTS score of 40. Good convergent and divergent vali dity was obtained. The DTS showed predictive validity against response to treatment, as well as being sensitive to treatment effects. Conclu sions. The DTS showed good reliability and validity, and offers promis ed as a scale which is particularly suited to assessing symptom severi ty, treatment outcome and in screening for the likely diagnosis of PTS D.