Measurement of posttraumatic stress disorder in community samples

Measurement of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in community samples ra ises particular problems due to the lower base rate of PTSD than in clinica l samples. In this paper we describe the development of the DSMPTSD-III-R a nd the DSMPTSD-IV self-report measures of PTSD for use in community populat ions. In three groups of motor vehicle accident (MVA) subjects with various rates of PTSD we examine the diagnostic accuracy of the DSM-III-R, DSMPTSD -IV, and three frequently used PTSD measures - Impact of Event Scale (IES), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Per sonality Inventory-Keane PTSD Scale (MMPI-PK) - compared with the Structure d Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and its DSM-IV revision. We prese nt two abbreviated versions of our measures, the BPTSD-12-item and BPTSD-6- item, standardized for both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV. Compared with other self- report measures, the DSMPTSD-III-R and DSMPTSD-IV performed well for acute and chronic PTSD in community samples, particularly when the prevalence of PTSD was low. Both the DSMPTSD-III-R and the DSMPTSD-IV are internally cons istent and valid measures of PTSD in MVA subjects in community samples. Our measures are utilitarian: the measures are brief, require no training to a dminister, and have good reliability and validity in community samples. The y are among the few measures structured to meet PTSD diagnostic criteria fo r both the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV. The BPTSD-12 and BPTSD-6 are good, brief P TSD screening measures to identify individuals in disaster communities need ing further evaluation.