This paper describes the PTSD Interview (PTSD‐I). It was developed to meet four specifications: (a) close correspondence to DSM‐III standards; (b) binary present/absent and continuous severity/frequency outputs on each symptom and the entire syndrome; (c) administrable by trained subprofessionals; and (d) substantial reliability and validity. It was written to meet the first three criteria. It demonstrated very high internal consistency (alpha = 0.92) and test‐retest reliability (Total score r = 0.95; diagnostic agreement = 87%). It correlated strongly with parallel DIS criteria (Total score vs. DIS diagnosis rbis = 0.94, sensitivity = 0.89, specificity = 0.94, overall hit rate = 0.92, and kappa = 0.84). Earlier studies revealed correlations with a military stress scale and Keane et al.'s MMPI PTSD subscale. It is apparently the only PTSD instrument that meets all of the above criteria.
Bacteriophage MS2 is used in place of pathogenic viruses in a wide variety of studies that range from testing of compounds for disinfecting surfaces to studying environmental transport and fate of pathogenic viruses in groundwater. MS2 is also used as a pathogen simulant in the research, development, and testing (including open air tests) of methods, systems, and devices for the detection of pathogens in both the battlefield and homeland defense settings. PCR is often used as either an integral part of such detection systems or as a reference method to assess the sensitivity and specificity of microbial detection. To facilitate the detection of MS2 by PCR, we describe here a set of real-time fluorogenic reverse transcription-PCR assays. The sensitivity of the assays (performed with primer pairs and corresponding dye-labeled probes) ranged from 0.4 to 40 fg of MS2 genomic RNA (200 to 20,000 genome equivalents). We also demonstrate the usefulness of the primer pairs in assays without dye-labeled probe that included the DNA-binding dye SYBR green. None of the assays gave false-positive results when tested against 400 pg of several non-MS2 nucleic acid targets.
The authors factor analyzed DSM‐III‐based post‐traumatic stress disorder symptom ratings made on 131 Vietnam‐veteran PTSD patients. Five factors – termed Intrusive Thoughts and Their Effects, Increased Arousal, Impoverished Relationships, Guilt, and Cognitive Interference – emerged. The factor structure gave more support to Laufer, Brett and Gallops' conceptualization of PTSD than to the Horowitz, DSM‐III, or DSM‐III‐R systems. It also generated suggestions for future editions of the diagnostic manual.
The correlations of the Keane, Malloy, and Fairbank (1984) MMPI PTSD scale with DSM‐III‐based post‐traumatic stress disorder symptom, section, and factor score ratings, and with combat history, were studied to determine what aspects of the disturbance it measures (N = 61). The scale's correlations with the various symptom criteria were both substantial and strikingly consistent. However, its relationships with trauma history measures were modest and frequently nonsignificant. The data suggest that the scale is a moderately strong measure of the various PTSD symptoms, but is related only weakly to trauma history.
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