The PC-PTSD is a 4-item screen that was designed for use in
primary care and other medical settings and is currently used to
screen for PTSD in veterans at the VA. The screen includes an
introductory sentence to cue respondents to traumatic events. The
authors suggest that in most circumstances the results of the
PC-PTSD should be considered "positive" if a patient answers "yes"
to any 3 items. Those screening positive should then be assessed with
a structured interview for PTSD. The screen does not include a list
of potentially traumatic events.
Scale
Instructions
In your life, have you ever had any
experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in
the past month, you:
Have had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did
not want to?
YES / NO
Tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to
avoid situations that reminded you of it?
YES / NO
Were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?
YES / NO
Felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your
surroundings?
YES / NO
Current research suggests that the results of the PC-PTSD should
be considered "positive" if a patient answers "yes" to any three
items.
References
Prins, A., Ouimette, P., Kimerling, R., Cameron, R. P.,
Hugelshofer, D. S., Shaw-Hegwer, J., Thrailkill, A., Gusman, F.D.,
Sheikh, J. I. (2004). The primary care PTSD screen (PC–PTSD):
development and operating characteristics. Primary Care Psychiatry,
9, 9-14
Orsillo, Susan M. (2001). Measures for acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. In M.M. Antony & S.M. Orsillo (Eds.), Practitioner's guide to empirically based measures of anxiety (pp. 255-307). New York: KluwerAcademic/Plenum. PILOTS ID 24368
Norris, Fran H. & Hamblen, Jessica L. (2004). Standardized self-report measures of civilian trauma and PTSD. In J.P. Wilson, T.M. Keane & T. Martin (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD (pp. 63-102). New York: Guilford Press. PILOTS ID 18638
To obtain scale:
See above where scale is made available on this page.
