title: The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist as a screening measure for posttraumatic stress disorder in rehabilitation after burn injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the profile of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among outpatients with burn injuries referred to psychology in a rehabilitation hospital, and the utility of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) as a screening measure for PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective psychological chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient burn clinic of a rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients (N=132) with burns referred to psychology between December 1999 and January 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychological evaluation and self-report questionnaires measuring PTSD and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition to assess clinical diagnosis of disorders, PCL-C to measure PTSD, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II to measure depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 132 outpatients, 127 (96%) had work-related injuries, 116 (88%) were men, and 16 (12%) were women. Mean age ± SD at injury was 39.0±11.1 years. Mean time from injury to assessment was 15.7±42.7 months. Burn etiology included: electrical (46.2%), scald (28.0%), flame (16.7%), chemical (5.3%), and contact (3.8%). Most patients (75%) were diagnosed with PTSD, either clinical (39.4%) or subclinical (35.6%). PTSD (clinical or subclinical) was frequently diagnosed in the following etiology groups: scald (85.7%), flame (77.3%), and electrical (74.6%). There were significant relationships between PTSD and depression (P<.001), and between subclinical PTSD and adjustment disorder (P<.03). PCL-C mean scores ± SD in the clinical and subclinical PTSD groups were 59.7±8.9 and 43.5±15.6, respectively. A PCL-C total score of 50 or higher had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 79% for PTSD diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high prevalence of PTSD (clinical or subclinical) among outpatients with burns referred to psychology. Prospective screening of psychological symptoms, clinical assessment, and intervention is warranted, especially for patients with work-related burn injuries. Our results suggest that PCL-C is a useful screening measure for PTSD in patients with burns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, St. John's Rehab Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pgardner@stjohnsrehab.com
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knittel-Keren
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D057189:Checklist; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires