THE VALIDITY OF SCREENING FOR POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AND MAJORDEPRESSION AMONG VIETNAMESE FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS

The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of the Harvard T rauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the depression sub-scale of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) among Vietnamese f ormer political prisoners (POWs). The study population included Vietna mese POWs (n = 51) who migrated to the Boston metropolitan area betwee n January 1990 and July 1992 under the Special Released Re-education C enter Detainees Resettlement Program. The criterion validity of the HT Q in assessing PTSD and of the depression sub-scale of the HSCL-25 in assessing MDD is supported by the results. Consideration of an appropr iate cut-off score should include examination of the utility of a give n screening instrument for PTSD or MDD within different settings, such as refugee camps vs. countries of third asylum.