Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T04:27:12.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (1987). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (3rd edn, revised). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Blake, D. D., Weathers, F. W., Nagy, L. M., Kaloupek, D. G., Klauminzer, G., Charney, D. S. & Keane, T. M. (1990). A clinician rating scale for assessing current and lifetime PTSD: the CAPS-1. Behaviour Therapist 13, 187188.Google Scholar
Carr, C. C. & Ghosh, A. (1983). Accuracy of behavioural assessment by computer. British Journal of Psychiatry 142, 6670.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carr, A. C., Ancill, R. J., Ghosh, A. & Margo, A. (1981). Direct assessment of depression by microcomputer. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 64, 415422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, J. (1960). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement 20, 3746.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika 16, 297334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, J. M. & Breuer, A. (1985). Reliability and validity of a microcomputer assessment system for developmentally disabled persons. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded 20, 209213.Google Scholar
Glenn, S. M. (1983). The application of an automated system for the assessment of profoundly handicapped children. International Journal of Rehabilitation and Research 6, 358360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groth-Marnat, G. & Schumaker, J. (1989). Computer based psychological testing. Issues and guidelines. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 59, 257263.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horowitz, M., Wilner, N. & Alvarez, W. (1979). Impact of event scale: a measure of subjective stress. Psychosomatic Medicine 41, 209218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keane, T. M., Malloy, P. F. & Fairbank, J. A. (1984). Empirical development of an MMPI subscale for the assessment of combat related PTSD. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 52, 881891.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kobak, K. A., Reynolds, W. M., Rosenfeld, R. & Greist, J. H. (1990). Development and validation of a computer administered version of the Hamilton depression rating scale. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2, 5663.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lucas, R. W., Mullin, P. J., Luna, C. B. X. & McInroy, D. C. (1977). Psychiatrists and a computer as interrogators of patients with alcohol related illness: a comparison. British Journal of Psychiatry 131, 160167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, N. C., Sumer, K. R. & Bloor, R. N. (1984). Do patients like psychometric testing by computer? Journal of Clinical Psychology 40, 875877.3.0.CO;2-6>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neal, L. A. (1991). Computerised Clinician Administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale-1-Revised. Unpublished computer programme. RAF Hospital Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK.Google Scholar
Neal, L. A., Busuttil, W., Rollins, J., Herepath, R., Strike, P. & Turnbull, G. (1994). Convergent validity of measures of PTSD in a mixed military and civilian population. Journal of Traumatic Stress 7, 447450.Google Scholar
O'Brien, L. S. & Hughes, S. J. (1991). Symptoms of PTSD in Falkland veterans five years after the conflict. British Journal of Psychiatry 159, 135141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmer, R. D. & Keyser, D. (1984). Automated psychological testing with psychiatric patients. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization 2, 275281.Google Scholar
Schlenger, W. E., Kulka, R. A., Fairbank, J. A., Hough, R. L., Jordan, B. K., Marmar, C. R. & Weiss, D. S. (1992). The prevalence of PTSD in the Vietnam generation: a multimethod multisource assessment of psychiatric disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress 5, 333363.Google Scholar
Watson, C. G. (1990). Psychometric post traumatic stress disorder measuring techniques: a review. Psychological Assessment: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2, 460469.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, C. M. & Williams, T. (1987). Family therapy for Vietnam veterans. In Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Handbook for Clinicians (ed. Williams, T.), pp. 221231. Disabled American Veterans: Ohio.Google Scholar