To test the differential validity of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) classification, 3 groups of youths (PTSD, traumatized PTSD negatives, and controls) were examined. Youth with major comorbid disorders were excluded. On the basis of an analysis of parent-derived Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ratings, significant variations in CBCL scores were associated with PTSD but not with exposure to exceptional stress in the absence of PTSD. The results also indicated that traumatic exposure without the development of PTSD was not associated with higher estimates of psychopathology.

Information involving the development of the DSM-IV version of the Children's PTSD Inventory is described. Independent ratings by highly experienced judges denote that the instrument encompassed the universe of definition that it was intended to measure (i.e., the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD). The instrument was administered to 82 traumatized and 22 nontraumatized youths at Bellevue Hospital. Moderate to high Cronbach alphas (.53-.89) were evident at the subtest level. An alpha of .95 was evident at the diagnostic level. In terms of inter-rater reliability, 98.1% agreement was evident at the diagnostic level. Inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranged from .88 to .96 at the subtest level and .98 at the diagnostic level. Good to excellent kappas (.66-1.00) were reported for inter-rater reliability at the subtest level. An inter-rater reliability kappa of .96 was evident at the diagnostic level. In terms of test-retest reliability, 97.6% agreement was evident at the diagnostic level. Good to excellent test-retest kappas (.66-1.00) and ICCs (.66-.94) were observed. A test-retest kappa of .91 and an ICC of .88 was observed at the diagnostic level.

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The Children's PTSD lnventoly (CPTSDI) was administered to 76 traumatized and 28 nontraumatized youths. CPTSDI diagnoses were compared to DICA-R and SCID PTSD diagnoses. Moderate to high sensitivity, specijicity, positive and negative predictive powel; and diagnostic efficiency were evidenced across criterion measures. Convergent validiry was evidenced by significant correlations with the Revised Children s Manifest Anxiety Scale, Children s Depression Inventory, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Internalizing scale, and the Junior Eysenck Personality inventory (JEPI) Neuroticism scale. Discriminant validity was observed through nonsignificant correlations with the CBCL Externalizing and the JEPI Extraversion scales.

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