Authors: Hudson, Sheila¹; Beckford, Louisa¹; Jackson, Stephen²; Philpot, Michael¹

Source: Aging and Mental Health, Volume 12, Number 5, September 2008 , pp. 670-673(4)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic validity of the Post Traumatic Disorder Checklist (PCL) against the 'gold standard' of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) in a clinical sample of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional validation study: participants were patients (65 years and over) being treated for medical and/or psychiatric conditions in a hospital setting. Participants completed the PCL, measures of mood, cognition, physical health, alcohol use and the CAPS. A receiver operating characteristics curve was constructed to determine the optimal cut-point of the PCL. Analysis of variance was used to examine clinical differences between PTSD cases, sub-threshold cases and the remainder of the sample. Results: Using the recommended cut-point of 50, the PCL had a sensitivity of 0.40, specificity of 0.97 and positive predictive value of 0.57. However, these values changed to 0.90, 0.87 and 0.45, respectively, when the optimal cut-point of 36 was used. Conclusion: With an adjusted cut-point the PCL is an acceptable and brief screening instrument for PTSD in older adults.

Keywords: PTSD; screening; aged; depression

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860802343274

Affiliations: 1: Mental Health of Older Adults, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK 2: Department of Clinical Gerontology, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Publication date: 2008-09-01

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