Examining the uniqueness of frequency and intensity symptom ratings in posttraumatic stress disorder assessment

Jon D. Elhai; Brenda M. Lindsay; Matt J. Gray; Anouk L. Grubaugh; Terry C. North; B. Christopher Frueh

doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000243011.76105.4b

Examining the uniqueness of frequency and intensity symptom ratings in posttraumatic stress disorder assessment

Jon D. Elhai, Brenda M. Lindsay, Matt J. Gray, Anouk L. Grubaugh, Terry C. North, B. Christopher Frueh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Data from two studies are presented, investigating the relative effectiveness of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom frequency and intensity rating dimensions, in assessing overall PTSD severity and diagnosis. We assessed frequency and intensity ratings using 1) the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale with 298 trauma-exposed college students, and 2) the Clinician- Administered PTSD Scale with 130 combat-exposed military veterans. Results demonstrated little empirical justification for separating frequency and intensity ratings when measuring PTSD. Large overlaps in variance were evidenced between the dimensions (suggesting construct redundancy), with little meaningful contribution to diagnosing PTSD using one dimension over the other. Implications for future PTSD clinical and research assessment are discussed, including the potential to decrease administration time for these commonly used PTSD measures, given their time-consuming nature.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	940-944
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume	194
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nmd.0000243011.76105.4b
State	Published - Dec 2006

Keywords

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale
Military veterans
Modified PTSD Symptom Scale
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Severity (disorders)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1097/01.nmd.0000243011.76105.4b

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title = "Examining the uniqueness of frequency and intensity symptom ratings in posttraumatic stress disorder assessment",

abstract = "Data from two studies are presented, investigating the relative effectiveness of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom frequency and intensity rating dimensions, in assessing overall PTSD severity and diagnosis. We assessed frequency and intensity ratings using 1) the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale with 298 trauma-exposed college students, and 2) the Clinician- Administered PTSD Scale with 130 combat-exposed military veterans. Results demonstrated little empirical justification for separating frequency and intensity ratings when measuring PTSD. Large overlaps in variance were evidenced between the dimensions (suggesting construct redundancy), with little meaningful contribution to diagnosing PTSD using one dimension over the other. Implications for future PTSD clinical and research assessment are discussed, including the potential to decrease administration time for these commonly used PTSD measures, given their time-consuming nature.",

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AU - Lindsay, Brenda M.

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AU - North, Terry C.

AU - Frueh, B. Christopher

PY - 2006/12

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Examining the uniqueness of frequency and intensity symptom ratings in posttraumatic stress disorder assessment

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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