Validation of the Iranian Version of the University of California at Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index for DSM-IV-R

Abstract

BackgroundNatural disasters, both expected and unexpected, usually cause widespread injuries and destruction with a large number of survivors, including children. Several studies have shown that children may develop posttraumatic stress disorder after exposure to disasters such as an earthquake.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the screening abilities of the University of California at Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index for DSM-IV (Revision 1) (UCLA PTSD for DSM-IV) among Iranian school-aged children.Patients and MethodsTwenty months after the Qeshm Island 6.1-magnitude earthquake in 2008, we screened 50 students aged between 7 and 12 years for posttraumatic stress disorder using the UCLA PTSD INDEX for DSM-IV. A Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV criteria was used as the gold standard.ResultsThe internal consistency for all the scales was good and Cronbach’s coefficient for the overall items was 0.76. The sensitivity of this questionnaire was high (0.96), while its specificity was moderate (0.50).ConclusionsThe study findings showed that the Iranian version of UCLA PTSD Index for DS-MIV-R was appropriate for screening PTSD in children.

Psychotic experiences in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder. A cross sectional clinical study

“…The obtained Kappa values were above 0.4 for all diagnoses (except for the total anxiety disorders). The specificity percentages were above 85% for all diagnoses (and above 90% for half of them), which indicates the desired specificity of this tool (16,17). 4.…”

“…This semi-structured interview gives some diagnoses based on the DSM-IV. It has been used more than any other standard diagnostic interview in psychiatric studies (15,16).…”

“…4. The researcher-made questionnaire (used for collecting relevant demographic and clinical data), (12,16).…”