VALIDATION OF THE PURDUE POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SCALE ON A SAMPLE OF VIETNAM VETERANS

The Purdue Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale is a 15-item self-repo rt instrument based on the DSM-III diagnostic criteria for post-trauma tic stress disorder. This scale is a quick, easily administered, measu re of psychological reactions to a traumatic event. The goal of the pr esent report is to validate this instrument for use as a measure of lo ng-lasting combat stress reactions of American Vietnam veterans. The P PS demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency with a Cronbach' s coefficient alpha of a 94. The PPS demonstrated construct validity t hrough significant correlations with other self-report measures of com bat experience and residual psychological distress, and through a fact or analysis yielding three factors, labeled as arousal, avoidance, and the global perception of distress. Results support further use of the Purdue Post-traumatic Stress Scale as a research instrument for asses sing the long-term impact of a traumatic event.