Development and initial validation of a statistical prediction instrument for assessing combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008 Aug;196(8):605-11. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e318181326d.

Abstract

Statistical analyses were used to derive and validate a statistical prediction instrument to determine combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status. Participants were 1081 Vietnam veterans with and without combat-related PTSD. The statistical prediction instrument, which consisted of 12 well-known risk and resilience variables associated with PTSD, proved to be an accurate and efficient means of detecting PTSD among participants and compared well against other existing self-report measures of PTSD. The instrument's practical applications and its use in clinical appraisals of PTSD are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Combat Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Combat Disorders / psychology
  • Guilt
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Vietnam Conflict