Effects of varying diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder are endorsing the concept of partial PTSD

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the appropriateness of different diagnostic criteria sets for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . This was done by varying diagnostic criteria on the diagnosis of PTSD in a study group of N = 146 former political prisoners, and comparing the resu lting diagnostic groups with a study group of N = 75 nontraumatized control s with regard to mean scores on measures of subjective distress (i.e., IES- R, BDI, BAI, SCL-90-R). The findings did not support the diagnostic boundar ies as defined by the DSM-IV or the lowering of the avoidance criterion fro m three to two symptoms. The concept of partial PTSD appeared to be the mos t appropriate way to provide diagnostic coverage for those who did not meet full DSM N criteria.