Screening for psychologically traumatized rape victims.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine whether the General Health Questionnaire, a simple psychological screening instrument, could be useful to non-specialists in screening for psychologically traumatized rape victims.


METHODS
285 rape victims (mean age 22.5, men 8%) attending consecutively a Consultation for Victims of Psychological Trauma at the University Hospital in Tours, France, were assessed through the Structured Interview for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD), and the French 28-item version of the self-rated General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).


RESULTS
70% had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and 72% a GHQ-28 overthreshold score. The principal component analysis of the GHQ-28 ratings yielded a 4-factor solution: social dysfunction, feeling of foreshortened future type of depression, somatoform complaints and hyperalertness anxiety. GHQ-28 reliability and validity in screening for PTSD were studied through computation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.95), sensitivity (88%) and positive predictive value (86%). CONCCLUSION: Using the GHQ-28 is valid and appropriate for practical use.
Darves-Bornoz
J M
JM
Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire, CHU Tours, France.
Pierre
F
F
Lépine
J P
JP
Degiovanni
A
A
Gaillard
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires