POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN DUTCH PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

The present study addresses the use of standardized PTSD scales in determining traumatization in psychiatric inpatients. Twenty-eight (53%) out of 53 psychiatric inpatients reported an experience of a psychological trauma. Fifteen subjects did fulfill the stressor criterion of DSM-III-R, while the trauma of another 12 subjects appeared to be a major negative life event. On two PTSD scales, on average, the 15 traumatized subjects showed the highest scores. On these PTSD scales the 12 subjects with major life events appeared to resemble the nontraumatized subjects. In general psychiatric symptomatology, as measured by the SCL-90, the traumatized subjects showed a significant higher Phobic Anxiety score. It is concluded that specific PTSD scales can differentiate between 'objectively' traumatized patients and other patients, while a general psychiatric screening instrument (SCL-90) cannot.