Article

Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder

  1. Edna B. Foa,
  2. David S. Riggs,
  3. Constance V. Dancu,
  4. Barbara O. Rothbaum†

Article first published online: 19 FEB 2006

DOI: 10.1002/jts.2490060405

Issue

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Volume 6, Issue 4, pages 459–473, October 1993

Additional Information

How to Cite

Foa, E. B., Riggs, D. S., Dancu, C. V. and Rothbaum, B. O. (1993), Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 6: 459–473. doi: 10.1002/jts.2490060405

Author Information

  1. Medical College of Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, 3200 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129

  1. †

    The Emory Clinic

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 FEB 2006
  2. Article first published online: 19 FEB 2006

Funded by

  • NIMH. Grant Number: 5RO1/MH42178–06

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Keywords:

  • PTSD Symptom Scale;
  • DSM-III-R;
  • self-report

Abstract

This study examines the psychometric properties of two versions of the PTSD Sympton Scale (PSS). The scale contains 17 items that diagnose PTSD according to DSM-III-R criteria and assess the severity of PTSD symptoms. An interview and self-report version of the PSS were administered to a sample of 118 recent rape and non-sexual assault victims. The results indicate that both versions of the PSS have satisfactory internal consistency, high test-retest reliability, and good concurrent validity. The interview version yielded high interrater agreement when administred separately by two interviewers and excellent convergent validity with the SCID. When used to diagnose PTSD, the self-report version of the PSS was somewhat more conservative than the interview version.

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