title: Brief screening instrument for post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brief screening instruments appear to be a viable way of detecting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but none has yet been adequately validated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test and cross-validate a brief instrument that is simple to administer and score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one survivors of a rail crash were administered a questionnaire, followed by a structured clinical interview 1 week later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excellent prediction of a PTSD diagnosis was provided by respondents endorsing at least six re-experiencing or arousal symptoms, in any combination. The findings were replicated on data from a previous study of 157 crime victims.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance of the new measure was equivalent to agreement achieved between two full clinical interviews.
authors.affiliation: Subdepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brewin
authors.forename: Suzanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tata
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McEvedy
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Edna B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Foa
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011890:Railroads; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires