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Development and validation of the Computerized Clinician Administered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale-1-Revised

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

L. A. Neal*
Affiliation:
Department of Military Psychiatry, RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire
W. Busuttil
Affiliation:
Department of Military Psychiatry, RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire
R. Herapath
Affiliation:
Department of Military Psychiatry, RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire
P. W. Strike
Affiliation:
Department of Military Psychiatry, RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire
*
1Address for correspondence: Squadron Leader L. A. Neal, Department of Military Psychiatry, RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 0QJ

Synopsis

A computer administered version of the clinician administered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scale-1 was developed to assess PTSD in subjects presenting with psychological symptoms following exposure to a traumatic event. Both forms were administered to 40 subjects who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, third edition, revised (DSM-III-R) criteria for exposure to a significantly traumatic stressor. Inter-observer reliability was demonstrated with a kappa statistic of 0·90. The computer version had a sensitivity of 0·95 and a specificity 0·95. A correlation of 0·95 was found between the two versions and the mean score difference was non-significant. The computer form demonstrated adequate internal reliability and test–retest reliability. Overall results suggest the computer version is a valid and reliable measure of PTSD.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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