How to Use This Test
This test can be used by psychologists, social workers and counsellors to help:
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Screen for the presence of PTSD in large groups or with patients who have identified themselves as victims of a traumatic event
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Gauge symptom severity and functioning in patients already identified as suffering from PTSD
Key Features
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The test can be administered in just 10-15 minutes.
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The test helps identify the source of a client's pain early on, helping to make treatment planning more effective.
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A diverse normative base offers a distinct advantage over other PTSD instruments that are normed primarily on men suffering from combat-related traumas.
Scales
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PTSD Diagnosis (A diagnosis is confirmed if all six DSM-IV criteria are met.)
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Symptom Severity Score
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Symptom Severity Rating
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Level of Impairment of Functioning
Norms
The PDS instrument was normed on a group of 248 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who had experienced a traumatic event at least one month before they took the test. The diverse normative base includes clients of women's shelters, PTSD treatment clinics, and Veterans Administration hospitals, in addition to staff of fire stations and ambulance corps.