Convergence between clinician-rated and patient-reported PTSD symptoms in a specialized outpatient service: The moderator role of gender

Purpose: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) includes different symptoms: re-experiencing, avoidance of reminders and numbing, and hyperarousal. Although questionnaires are widely used, clinician-administered interviews provide a more comprehensive exploration of symptoms. Few studies examined the convergence between clinician-rated and patient-reported general severity and symptoms, with mixed findings. We explored the association between clinician-rated and patient-reported general severity and symptoms and the moderator role of gender in PTSD patients referred to a specialized outpatient service.

Design and methods: The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and Davidson Trauma Scale were administered to 56 patients.

Findings: Patients classified by clinicians as with higher avoidance/numbing symptoms and women classified with higher hyperarousal symptoms reported higher general severity.

Practice implications: The assessment of the patients reporting high severity should focus on hyperarousal, particularly for women.