Cj. Lonigan et al., DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF POSTTRAUMATIC SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO DISASTER, Journal of clinical child psychology, 27(3), 1998, pp. 255-267
Examined 5 conditional probability indices to determine the diagnostic
efficacy of 48 symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) in 5,687 children exposed to Hurricane Hugo, of whom 5.5% had
a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS). Moderate levels o
f sensitivity and high levels of specificity were obtained for most sy
mptoms. Odds ratios more precisely demonstrated that some Diagnostic a
nd Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) symptoms of PTSD, espe
cially when combined were useful for identifying children with PTSS bu
t that anxiety symptoms and some DSM symptoms of PTSD had poor diagnos
tic utility. Satisfying criteria for the DSM-III-R numbing/avoidance c
luster and symptoms from the numbing/avoidance cluster had the highest
diagnostic efficacy, suggesting that avoidance may be the hallmark of
severe posttraumatic reactions. These results suggest which symptoms
should be conceptualized as central versus peripheral to the disorder
and which symptoms and symptom combinations clinicians should attend t
o most when diagnosing or screening PTSD in children.