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The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)



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The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)

Prins, Ouimette, Kimerling et al., 2003

Description

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:

  1. Have had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did not want to?

    YES / NO

  2. Tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of it?

    YES / NO

  3. Were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?

    YES / NO

  4. 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

Additional Reviews

Orsillo (2001) p. 299

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 and Hamblen (2004) p. 71

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.


From the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,
US Department of Veterans Affairs.




What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD FAQs
Treatment of PTSD
How common is PTSD?
What can I do if I think I have PTSD?
Helping a Family Member Who Has PTSD
How is PTSD Measured?
Traumatic Stress in Female Veterans
FAQs About PTSD Assessment
DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD
FAQs About PTSD Assessment: For Professionals


Trauma Exposure Measures

Chart - Trauma Exposure Measures
Potential Stressful Events Interview (PSEI)
Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ)
Trauma Assessment for Adults-Self-report (TAA)
Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ)
Trauma History Screen (THS)
Traumatic Events Questionnaire (TEQ)
Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ)
Traumatic Stress Schedule (TSS)
Combat Exposure Scale (CES)
Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS)
Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R)

Trauma Exposure Measures


PTSD Screening Instruments

Below is a list of links to information on select PTSD Screens, brief questionnaires completed in order to identify people who are more likely to have PTSD. A positive response to the screen does not necessarily indicate that a patient has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. However, a positive response does indicate that a patient may have PTSD or trauma-related problems and further investigation of trauma symptoms by a mental-health professional may be warranted.

Chart - Screens for PTSD
Short Form of the PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version
Short Screening Scale for PTSD
The SPAN
SPRINT
The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)
Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ)
Beck Anxiety Inventory - Primary Care (BAI-PC)

PTSD Screening

PLEASE NOTE: Screens are to be used to determine possible problems, and positive cases should be followed up by assessment with a structured interview for PTSD.


Common Reactions to Trauma

People experience a range of reactions following trauma. Here you will find information on what these common reactions are, including anger, nightmares, sleep problems, and more.

Avoidance
Nightmares
Anger and Trauma
Sleep and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What Are the Traumatic Stress Effects of Terrorism?
Common Reactions After Trauma





If you are in an immediate crisis, please go to your nearest Emergency Room, or call 911, or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to talk to someone right now.




O'er, the land of the free and the home of the brave!