Abstract
Kaloupek DG, Chard KM, Freed MC, Peterson AL, Riggs DS, Stein MB, Tuma F. Common data
elements for posttraumatic stress disorder research.
An expert work group with 7 members was formed under the cosponsorship of 5 U.S. federal
agencies to identify common data elements for research related to posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). The work group reviewed both previous and contemporary measurement
standardization efforts for PTSD research and engaged in a series of electronic and
live discussions to address a set of predefined aims. Eight construct domains relevant
to PTSD were identified: (1) traditional demographics, (2) exposure to stressors and
trauma, (3) potential stress moderators, (4) trauma assessment, (5) PTSD screening,
(6) PTSD symptoms and diagnosis, (7) PTSD-related functioning and disability, and
(8) mental health history. Measures assigned to the core data elements category have
relatively low time-and-effort costs in order to make them potentially applicable
across a wide range of studies for which PTSD is a relevant condition. Measures assigned
to the supplemental data elements category have greater costs but generally demonstrate
stronger psychometric performance and provide more extensive information. Accordingly,
measures designated as supplemental are recommended instead of or in addition to corresponding
core measures whenever resources and study design allow. The work group offered 4
caveats that highlight potential limitations and emphasize the voluntary nature of
standardization for PTSD-related measurement.
Key Words
List of Abbreviations:
CAPS (Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale), CES (Combat Exposure Scale), CTQ (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), DoD (Department of Defense), DRRI (Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory), DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition), ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision), INTRuST (Injury and Traumatic Stress Clinical Consortium), LEC (Life Events Checklist), PCL (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist), PCL-C (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Civilian), PCL-M (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Military), PCL-S (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Specific Event), PC-PTSD (Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen), PDS (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale), PSS-I (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale Interview Version), PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), SDS (Sheehan Disability Scale), SES (socioeconomic status), SF-12 (Medical Outcomes Study–Short Form (12-item version)), SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study–Short Form (36-item version)), STRONG STAR (South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience), TBI (traumatic brain injury), TLEQ (Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire), VA (Department of Veterans Affairs), VR-12 (Veterans RAND Health Survey–Short Form (12-item version)), VR-36 (Veterans RAND Health Survey–Short Form (36-item version))To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Footnotes
Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the agencies or institutions with which they are affiliated, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health, or the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. This work is not an official document, guidance, or policy of the U.S. Government, nor should any official endorsement be inferred.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
Reprints are not available from the author.
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© 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
