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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. FAQs About PTSD AssessmentFrequently Asked Questions (and answers) for the Public How can I tell if I have PTSD?A lot of people contact us because they want to find a way to determine for themselves whether they have PTSD. It is understandable that a person would want to know why they are feeling or acting a certain way. However, it's not really possible to figure out on your own whether or not you have PTSD. It's challenging even for skilled clinicians to know which tool to use when trying to figure out whether a patient has PTSD. They need to understand the thoughts and behaviors associated with PTSD, they need to be able to select the best questionnaire, and they need to know how to interpret the results that they get. Because of all of these things, the American Psychological Association suggests that questionnaires used to evaluate PTSD be given only to people who have been trained in this process. If you think you may have PTSD, we recommend that you talk to your doctor or a mental health provider. See related readings for how to find a therapist. How can I find out if a particular mental health provider can evaluate me for PTSD?You can ask questions about the person's training and experience. Some questions you might ask include: What is your area of specialization?
Some specialization is desirable, but not too much. For example, it is common and appropriate for a provider to specialize in assessing and treating adult survivors of recent traumas. But if a provider specializes in a particular trauma that does not apply to you, he or she may not have enough knowledge or experience in assessing trauma survivors like you. Also, a provider who does not specialize at all but says he or she can assess and treat any type of trauma in children or adults may not have enough expertise to do a good job on your assessment. How many trauma assessments have you done?
Experience with at least 10 prior assessments is desirable. What formal training have you had that will allow you to evaluate me for PTSD?
It is preferable for a professional to have specific training in PTSD assessment rather than in general assessment only. Are you a member of any professional societies or organizations related to traumatic stress?
It is a good idea to look at the websites of any professional organizations that a mental health professional mentions. This will give you some idea of the way the professional works with patients who have traumatic stress. Ask yourself if the activities of the organization seem appropriate and important. Can you tell me a little about how you assess PTSD?
It is important that you feel comfortable with the assessment methods that a provider will use. It is possible to perform a good general assessment of PTSD without any specialized equipment or techniques. It is common for providers to have you fill out questionnaires or to use standardized interviews.) Who can request a PTSD or trauma measure from the National Center for PTSD?The American Psychological Association requires that a person have advanced graduate-level training before they can administer and interpret tests. That is why we do not give measures to people who do not hold at least a master's degree in a clinical discipline. Graduate students must have a professor get the measure for them, and these students must be supervised by the professor while they use the measure. I am trying to prove that I have PTSD. Can I use one of these measures to help me do this?Evidence that you have PTSD needs to be determined from the results of a thorough PTSD evaluation given to you by a professional. Any organization you might be dealing with will need this. Therefore, it would be best for you to see a health-care provider who has experience in this area. If you are a veteran, go to http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/ for fact sheets on how to submit a compensation claim for PTSD. Or call you local VA Medical Center to ask about benefits. Veterans Service Organizations (VSO's) also offer free guidance on completing claims. What is the difference between an evaluation that measures trauma exposure and an evaluation that measures PTSD?Something that measures trauma exposure tries to figure out whether you've experienced something that is considered a traumatic event, such as combat, a car accident, or child sexual abuse, for example. Sometimes the evaluation asks when these events happened or how much the experience affected you. For example, rather than just asking if you have experienced combat, these measures might ask your age at the time of the experience and whether you felt your life was in danger. Something that measures PTSD tries to figure out whether you felt certain things or acted in certain ways after you experienced the traumatic event. Some evaluations also ask about things like depression and relationship problems, even though these things are not part of a PTSD diagnosis. 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. |