Objective
This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) (PC‐PTSD‐5) as a screening tool for the identification of PTSD among a civilian sample receiving behavioral health treatment within a primary care setting. Validation within a civilian sample will increase the generalizability of the PC‐PTSD‐5 as a brief screening measure to identify PTSD within primary care practices.
Method
The present study is a retrospective review of data (N = 198) collected as part of a patient registry for an integrated behavioral health consultation service within a primary care clinic. The PC‐PTSD‐5 was administered as part of a standardized set of brief screening measures and a standard clinical interview. Diagnostic validation was accomplished via a consensus model between a board‐certified family medicine physician and a licensed psychologist along with medical/psychology trainees.
Results
Fifty‐two participants (26.26%) out of 198 who completed the PC‐PTSD‐5 were diagnosed with PTSD. The PC‐PTSD‐5 demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.933, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.901–0.965). A cutoff score of 4 maximized sensitivity (sensitivity% = 100) while maintaining acceptable specificity (specificity% = 85.2). This score also maximized efficiency (κ[0.5] = 0.77, SE = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.67–0.86) and maintained a good (≥0.60) quality index for specificity (κ[0] = 0.61).
Conclusion
The PC‐PTSD‐5 maintained strong diagnostic accuracy within a civilian primary care sample.
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