title: When is exposure to a natural disaster traumatic? Comparison of a trauma questionnaire and disaster exposure inventory.
abstract: Few studies have compared the sensitivity of trauma questionnaires to disaster inventories for assessing the prevalence of exposure to natural disaster or associated risk for post-disaster psychopathology. The objective of this analysis was to compare reporting of disaster exposure on a trauma questionnaire (Brief Trauma Questionnaire [BTQ]) to an inventory of disaster experience. Between 2011 and 2014, a sample of 841 reproductive-aged southern Louisiana women were interviewed using the BTQ and completed a detailed inventory about exposure to hurricanes and flooding. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology was measured with the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist, and depression with the Edinburgh Depression Scale. The single question addressing disaster exposure on the BTQ had a sensitivity of between 65% and 70% relative to the more detailed questions. Reporting disaster exposure on the BTQ was more likely for those who reported illness/injury due to a hurricane or flood (74%-77%) or danger (77-79%), compared to those who reported damage (69-71%) or evacuation (64-68%). Reporting disaster exposure on the BTQ was associated with depression (odds ratio [OR] 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-3.68). A single question is unlikely to be useful for assessing the degree of exposure to disaster across a broad population, and varies in utility depending on the mental health outcome of interest: the single trauma question is useful for assessing depression risk.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States of America.
authors: Emily W
authors: EW
authors: Harville
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States of America.
authors: Marni
authors: M
authors: Jacobs
authors: Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors: Renée
authors: R
authors: Boynton-Jarrett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult