title: Properties of the Driving Behavior Survey among individuals with motor vehicle accident-related posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Data suggest anxious drivers may engage in problematic behaviors that place themselves and others at increased risk of negative traffic events. Three domains of problematic behavior--exaggerated safety/caution, performance deficits, and hostile/aggressive behaviors--previously were identified during development of the Driving Behavior Survey (DBS), a novel measure of anxiety-related behavior. Extending this research, the current study examined the psychometric properties of DBS scores among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subsequent to motor vehicle trauma (N=40). Internal consistencies and 12-week test-retest reliabilities for DBS scales ranged from good to excellent. Comparison of scores to normative student data indicated dose-response relationships for safety/caution and performance deficit subscales, with increased frequency of anxious behavior occurring within the PTSD sample. Associations with standard clinical measures provide additional evidence for anxiety-related driving behavior as a unique marker of functional impairment, distinct from both avoidance and disorder-specific symptoms.
authors: University of Wyoming, Department of Psychology, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, United States. Electronic address: jclapp@uwyo.edu.
authors: Joshua D
authors: JD
authors: Clapp
authors: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, United States. Electronic address: Aaron.Baker2@va.gov.
authors: Aaron S
authors: AS
authors: Baker
authors: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, United States. Electronic address: Scott.Litwack@va.gov.
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Litwack
authors: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, United States. Electronic address: Denise.Sloan@va.gov.
authors: Denise M
authors: DM
authors: Sloan
authors: University of Memphis., Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152, United States. Electronic address: jgbeck@memphis.edu.
authors: J Gayle
authors: JG
authors: Beck
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012449:Safety; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Assessment; Driving anxiety; Driving behavior; Motor vehicle accident; Posttraumatic stress disorder