PTSD screening using a ten-item checklist of psychological symptoms: a large-scale military veteran sample and a civilian comparison group.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to explore if self-rated psychological symptoms in military veterans covary strong enough with established PTSD scales to make a symptom checklist a useful screening tool.

Methodology: A Swedish sample of military veterans (n = 1,859) responded to a questionnaire which contained a checklist of ten psychological symptoms and a test of PTSD indication. The items measured the situation during the last month. All symptoms had the following response choices: 1 (Never), 2 (Seldom), 3 (Sometimes), 4 (Often) and 5 (Very often). The choices Often and Very often were combined and form the basis of the analysis.

Findings: The majority of individuals in the military sample reported that they had not experienced any of the ten psychological symptoms often or very often during the last month. Approximately 5% of the men and 9% of the women scored five symptoms or more. Among the men who reported five symptoms or more, about one third scored above a higher established PTSD cut-off value (PCL-4 > 44).

Originality: The psychological symptom checklist represents a new approach to PTSD indication screening and identification of individuals who may need further support.

Research limitations and strengths: Clinical assessment of PTSD would be a necessary complement for those that indicate further need. Study strengths include a large sample, use of established scales and a straightforward and simple statistical analysis.

Practical implications: The checklist is easy to administer and score. After a brief introduction, it takes about two minutes to complete.