Psychometric properties of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM–5 (PDS–5).

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5), a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on diagnostic criteria of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Participants were 242 urban community residents, veterans, and college undergraduates recruited from 3 study sites who had experienced a DSM-5 Criterion A traumatic experience. The PDS-5 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (␣ ϭ .95) and test-retest reliability (r ϭ .90) and good convergent validity with the PTSD Checklist-Specific Version (r ϭ .90) and the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview Version for DSM-5 (PSSI-5; r ϭ .85). The PDS-5 also showed good discriminant validity with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait scale (all Z H Ͼ 3.05, ps Ͻ .01). There was 78% agreement between the PDS-5 and the PSSI-5. Receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded a cutoff score of 28 for identifying a probable PTSD diagnosis. The PDS-5 is a valid and reliable measure of DSM-5 PTSD symptomatology.

Trauma-related memories in PTSD after interpersonal violence: an ambulatory assessment study

“…This raises the question whether psychotherapeutic research should be complemented by more sensitive tools to capture intrusive memories than traditional paper-and-pencil instruments. For example, the widely used Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5; Foa et al, 2016a) assesses symptom frequency and severity on 5-point Likert-type scales ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘six or more times a week/severe’. When studying effects of treatments or of specifically tailored interventions, such a lack of sensitivity might result in missing both improvements and symptom exacerbations and hereby result in an underestimation of interventions.…”

“…The instruments that do take frequency into account generally use Likert scales with categories that cover broad ranges like ‘six or more times a week’ (e.g. the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 [PDS-5]; Foa et al 2016a); Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale Interview for DSM-5 [PSSI-5]; Foa et al, 2016b). However, recent research (Priebe et al, 2013) points towards ceiling effects that are inherent to these commonly used questionnaires and interviews.…”

Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among burn survivors two years after the 2015 Formosa Fun Coast Water Park explosion in Taiwan

“…The Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5; Foa et al, 2016) is a self-report measure assessing PTSD symptoms over the past month according to DSM-5 criteria. Twenty items assess symptoms corresponding to those in the four DSM-5 clusters: intrusion (Item 1–5), avoidance (Item 6–7), negative alterations in cognitions and mood (Item 8–14) and alterations in arousal and reactivity (Item 15–20).…”

“…The PDS-5 demonstrated excellent reliability (α = .95 for internal consistency, r  = .90 for one-week test-retest reliability) as well as good diagnostic agreement with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5; Weathers et al, 2013). The optimal cut-off score for identifying probable PTSD diagnosis is 28, with sensitivity 79% and specificity 78% (Foa et al, 2016). Cronbach’s alpha of the total PDS-5 in this study was .93.…”

“…The trauma screen part of the PDS-5 (Foa et al, 2016) was used to assess prior trauma, including eight PTEs (e.g. disaster, accident, sexual assault).…”