Psychometric Properties of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index: Part I

Abstract

This article presents psychometric characteristics of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM IV (PTSD-RI) derived from a large sample of children and adolescents (N = 6,291) evaluated at National Child Traumatic Stress Network centers. Overall mean total PTSD-RI score for girls was significantly higher as compared with boys. Age-related differences were found in that overall mean total PTSD-RI scores and within sex groups were higher among those aged 7-9 years and 16-18 years. There were no significant differences in mean total PTSD-RI scores across racial/ethnic groups. The PTSD-RI total scale displayed good to excellent internal consistency reliability across age ranges, sex, and racial/ethnic groups (α = .88-.91). Correlations of PTSD-RI scores with PTS subscale scores on the TSCC-A for the entire sample and within sex, age, and ethnic/racial groups provided evidence of convergent validity, although not discriminant validity. In contradistinction to previously reported 4-factor models, an exploratory factor analysis revealed 3 factors that mostly reflected the underlying dimensions of PTSD in DSM IV. PTSD-RI scores were associated with increased odds ratios for functional/behavior problems (odds ratio [OR] = 1-1.80). These findings are striking in light of the wide range of trauma exposures, age, and race/ethnicity among subjects.

Adjustment Among Area Youth After the Boston Marathon Bombing and Subsequent Manhunt

“…9 The Reaction Index provides a continuous measure of youth posttraumatic stress; scores $38 indicate "likely PTSD." Items were worded to relate specifically to the bombing and manhunt.…”

The Body Can Change the Score: Empirical Support for Somatic Regulation in the Treatment of Traumatized Adolescents

“…Trauma History The Trauma History Profile (THP; Pynoos et al 2014) was derived from the Trauma History component of the UCLA PTSD-RI (Steinberg et al 2013). Information is obtained at baseline and updated as needed from multiple informants, including the child, parents/caregivers, and other relatives about 20 different types of trauma exposure, including traumatic loss, bereavement, and separation.…”

“…The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction-Index (PTSD-RI; Steinberg et al 2013) is a 22 question, self-report scale that assesses symptoms of posttraumatic stress in youth. The PTSD-RI is a commonly used test to help diagnose, treat, and monitor PTSD levels in youth (Murray et al 2011), yielding an Overall Severity score, which at certain levels corresponds to a PTSD diagnosis depending on the population being examined (clinical cut off for single incident trauma victims is 38 and for chronically traumatized children is 31).…”

“…Racial composition of the total sample included 55 % Caucasian, 20 % Hispanic/Latino, 16 % African American, and 7 % Biracial. Of the total sample, 61 % were diagnosed with PTSD by their clinician and 55 % of the subjects met the cut-off for PTSD diagnosis on the PTSD-RI (Steinberg et al 2013). Participants had a high rate of co-morbid diagnoses: 48 % had three or more diagnoses and 42 % had two diagnoses, while only 10 % had just one diagnosis.…”

Parental Experiences of Supporting Children with Clinically Significant Post-Traumatic Distress: a Qualitative Study of Families Accessing Psychological Services

“…The child and adolescent versions of the UCLA-RI (Pynoos et al 1998) were administered to young people in the study in order to obtain their own reports of PTSD symptoms. The UCLA-RI is a commonly used measure of child and adolescent PTSS and has been found to correlate highly with a diagnosis of PTSD (McDermott and Cvitanovich 2000;Steinberg et al 2013), and to show good internal consistency and test-retest reliability (Steinberg et al 2013;Steinberg et al 2004).…”