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Measurement in Practice Article

Please note that this section is an archive and is no longer being updated.

Comparison of PTSD Symptom Assessment Instruments

Prepared by Kimberly Raiford Wildes, DrPH, MA

Comparison of Instruments

The next set of criteria begins with identifying whether the instrument's symptom criteria are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and if so, which version (e.g. DSM-III, -II-R, -IV). Next, Price and Availability information is provided with a link to the website where the respective instrument may be ordered, or where further availability information may be obtained. The next column indicates how much time is necessary to administer the measure along with the reported administration method.

Criteria Group: [1] [2] [3] [4] << Previous Criteria Next Criteria >>

Name, Author, Publication Year

DSM Criteria-based

Price and Availability

Administration Time and Technique

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)

D.D. Blake et al., 1990 		Yes; DSM-IV symptom criteria (A-F) as well as 13 other items that assess associated symptoms and outcome variables Free;
www.ncptsd.va.gov/publications/ 		40-60 minutes; trained Interviewer-administered

Impact of Event Scale (IES)

M. Horowitz et al., 1979 		Yes; 14 of 17 DSM-III-R and DSM-IV symptom criteria (B-D) Free;
www.mardihorowitz.com 		Less than 20 minutes; self-report

Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD

T.M. Keane, 1988 		Yes; DSM-III and related features (suicidality, depression, substance abuse) Free;
www.ncptsd.va.gov/publications/ 		10-15 minutes; self-report

Mississippi Scale for PTSD - Civilian Version

T.M. Keane, 1988 		Yes; DSM-III-R and DSM-IV PTSD criteria (B-D) as well as other symptoms. Free;
www.ncptsd.va.gov/publications/ 		5-10 minutes; self-report

Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS)

J.R.T. Davidson, 1997 		Yes; DSM-III-R and DSM-IV PTSD criteria (B-D). $1.00 per copy;
www.mhs.com 		Less than 10 minutes; self-report

PTSD Checklist - Military (PCL-M)

F. Weathers, 1991 		Yes; DSM-III-R Free;
www.ncptsd.va.gov/publications/ 		5-7 minutes; self-report