Reliability of self-reported trauma exposure among people with heroin dependence: a longitudinal investigation.
Estimates of trauma exposure rely almost exclusively on retrospective self-reports; however, the reliability of these reports has received little attention. The present study examined the reliability of self-reported lifetime trauma exposure among 309 dependent heroin users over 2 years, and the factors associated with inconsistent recall. The correlation between the number of events reported at baseline and follow-up was .72; however, 87% of the sample reported at least one event inconsistently. Variability in reporting was associated with trauma type, a lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. These findings suggest that dependent heroin users are moderately reliable in their reports of trauma exposure, and their reports of trauma exposure are as reliable as those of nonsubstance use disordered samples.
Mills
Katherine
K
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. k.mills@unsw.edu.au
Teesson
Maree
M
Darke
Shane
S
Ross
Joanne
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology