title: Assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans by videoconferencing and by face-to-face methods.
abstract: We compared videoconferencing and face-to-face (FTF) assessments for veterans seeking a mental health evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) interview was used in 20 male veterans. There were significant correlations (ranging from 0.74 to 0.92) between the CAPS administered FTF and by videoconferencing on all three subscales, as well as on the total severity score. The confidence intervals for the CAPS scores indicated statistical equivalence between administration FTF and by videoconferencing. The sensitivity of videoconferencing was 0.94 and the specificity was 0.33, compared with FTF assessment. The total and subscale scores suggested that there was a moderate working alliance with both methods. The patients indicated general satisfaction with the videoconferencing method. Most of them indicated that they would prefer to see a clinician FTF, but would utilize videoconferencing if there were distance barriers to services. Overall, the results of the present study support the use of videoconferencing in the assessment of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Research Service (151), Washington DC VA Medical Center, 50 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20422, USA.
authors.forename: Carole E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Porcari
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Amdur
authors.forename: Ellen I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: David C S
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Favorite
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martis
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liberzon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult