The PCL as a brief screen for posttraumatic stress disorder within schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the utility of using the posttraumatic checklist (PCL) as a screening measure for identifying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.


METHODS
The PCL was administered to 165 participants as part of a clinical trial. Those scoring 44 or above on the PCL underwent further assessment using the clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS).


RESULTS
Overall 18.2% of the sample exhibited a diagnostic level of PTSD symptoms, as indicated by the CAPS assessment. Only 29.7% of those who scored above the PCL threshold were diagnostic of PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of PCL for identifying PTSD within this population is not recommended.
a Department of Psychology , School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading , UK.
Craig
C
Steel
b Department of Population Health , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.
Asmae
A
Doukani
c Department of Psychology , Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience , London , UK.
Amy
A
Hardy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057189:Checklist; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
Posttraumatic stress disorder; assessment; psychosis; schizophrenia; trauma