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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. Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS)Krinsley et al., 1996
DescriptionThe Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS) is an assessment protocol for adolescents or adults comprised of a self-report questionnaire and semi-structured interview that examines a range of traumatic experiences across the lifespan. The 56-item questionnaire assesses experiences with disasters, illnesses, accidents, violence, combat, and other traumas by offering 4 response options ("yes, I can remember this," "I'm not sure if this happened," "No, but this happened to someone else in my family" and "No, this did not happen"). The 56-item interview is organized into 9 modules (some of which are optional) that examine the non-negative responses on the questionnaire by providing specific probe questions for each item. The interview provides a way to explore dimensions of each trauma including trauma type, perpetrators/victims, duration, frequency, perceptions of threats and emotional response, and others. A summary of the information can be captured in the Traumatic Events Summary prepared by the interviewer. Finally, an in-depth querying interview is provided to assess the worst two or three events to examine dimensions such as dissociation, disclosure, and treatment. This measure was designed to be sensitive clinically by allowing for vague responses and by introducing less emotionally evocative questions first and is suitable for both research and clinical purposes. Sample ItemHave you ever been in a war zone or other very dangerous area? ("Yes, this happened to me," "I'm not sure if this happened," "No, but this happened to someone I knew," "No, this did not happen") ReferencesKrinsley, K. E., Gallagher, J. G., Weathers, F. W., Kaloupek, D. G., & Vielhauer, M. (1997). Reliability and validity of the Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript. Krinsley, K. (1996). Psychometric review of the Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS) Questionnaire & Interview. In B.H. Stamm (Ed.). Measurement of stress, trauma and adaptation (pp.160-162). Lutherville, MD: Sidran Press. Additional ReviewsOrsillo (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 To obtain scale, contactD. Kaloupek, PhD From the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,
US Department of Veterans Affairs. What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Trauma Exposure MeasuresChart - Trauma Exposure Measures PTSD Screening InstrumentsBelow 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 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 TraumaPeople 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 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. |