title: The PTSD interview: rationale, description, reliability, and concurrent validity of a DSM-III-based technique.
abstract: This paper describes the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I). It was developed to meet four specifications: (a) close correspondence to DSM-III standards; (b) binary present/absent and continuous severity/frequency outputs on each symptom and the entire syndrome; (c) administrable by trained subprofessionals; and (d) substantial reliability and validity. It was written to meet the first three criteria. It demonstrated very high internal consistency (alpha = .92) and test-retest reliability (Total score r = .95; diagnostic agreement = 87%). It correlated strongly with parallel DIS criteria (Total score vs. DIS diagnosis rbis = .94, sensitivity = .89, specificity = .94, overall hit rate = .92, and kappa = .84). Earlier studies revealed correlations with a military stress scale and Keane et al.'s MMPI PTSD subscale. It is apparently the only PTSD instrument that meets all of the above criteria.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Cloud, MN 56303.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Juba
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manifold
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucala
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008950:MMPI / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009626:Terminology as Topic