Review article
https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2018_198237
Psychometric and clinical instruments for assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder and evaluation of treatment effect
Ninoslav Mímica
; Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče, Zagreb i Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet u Zagrebu, Zagreb
Suzana Uzun
; Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče, Zagreb i Sveučilište Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek
Oliver Kozumplik
; Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče, Zagreb i Sveučilište Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek
Danijela Žakić Milas
; Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče, Zagreb
Trpimir Glavina
; KBC Split, Klinika za psihijatriju, Split
Abstract
The aim of this article is to describe application of psychometric and clinical instruments for assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and evaluation of treatment effect.
Beside diagnostic criteria for PTSD, the use of validated psychometric instruments helps in diagnostics of PTSD, also. Instruments for assessment of PTSD are usually divided into two groups: the first group is consisted of structured and semi structured interviews that require individual approach and specific skills and knowledge of experienced clinician that applies them. The second group of instruments is consisted of psychometric scales which enable assessment of intensity of symptoms. The scales for measuring PTSD reveal information about type and intensity of symptoms. Also, many of them set threshold values that serve as indicator of presence or absence of the disorder. The choice of instruments depends on the aim of research, theoretical context and available sample. The complexity of assessment process, that is the choice of instruments that will be applied, depends greatly on the context within which the assessment is made. Accurate diagnostic assessment includes integration of data acquired form two basic fields: the first field is examination of exposure to trauma and the second is assessment of symptoms of PTSD. It is important to emphasize that it is necessary to exercise instruction and training of evaluators and objectively measure congruence of their assessments for every item of particular scale. A large number of self-rating scales has been constructed for measuring symptoms of PTSD, also. Different types of instruments are used for evaluation of treatment effect, too, that is, structured interviews and self-rating scales.
It may be emphasized that the use of psychometric instruments in the methodology of modern clinical professional-scientific work related to assessment of PTSD and treatment effect monitoring is important. For this purpose, it is necessary to further develop these instruments.
Keywords
diagnosis; instruments; posttraumatic stress disorder; trauma
Hrčak ID:
198237
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2018.
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