The Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) assessment is designed to aid in the detection and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PDS assessment parallels DSM-IV® diagnostic criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and may be administered repeatedly over time to help monitor changes in symptoms.
How to Use This Test
This test can be used by psychologists, social workers, and counselors to help:
- Screen for the presence of PTSD in large groups or with patients who have identified themselves as victims of a traumatic event
- Gauge symptom severity and functioning in patients already identified as suffering from PTSD
Key Features
- The test can be administered in just 10-15 minutes.
- The test helps identify the source of a client's pain early on, helping to make treatment planning more effective.
- A diverse normative base offers a distinct advantage over other PTSD instruments that are normed primarily on men suffering from combat-related traumas.
Scales
PTSD Diagnosis (A diagnosis is confirmed if all six DSM-IV criteria are met.)
Symptom Severity Score
Symptom Severity Rating
Level of Impairment of Functioning
Psychometric Information
The PDS instrument was normed on a group of 248 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who had experienced a traumatic event at least one month before they took the test. The diverse normative base includes clients of women's shelters, PTSD treatment clinics, and Veterans Administration hospitals, in addition to staff of fire stations and ambulance corps.
Report Options
Profile Report (Product Number 51739)
The profile report indicates a Yes or No for a diagnosis of PTSD. The report indicates if each of the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD was met (Yes, No, or Incomplete Information). Symptom Severity, Number of Symptoms Endorsed, Symptom Severity Rating, and Level of Impairment in Functioning are also reported. There is also a narrative section that summarizes the survey results.
View a sample Profile Report (female).
View a sample Profile Report (male).
Progress Report (Product Number 51622)
This report is designed to monitor a client's progress over time. Provided at no additional charge, it graphically displays changes in a client's Symptom Severity Score and Number of Symptoms Endorsed for up to five previously reported PDS administrations.
View a sample Progress Report (female).
View a sample Progress Report (male).
Scoring Options
Q Local™ Software - Enables you to score assessments, report results, and store and export data on your computer.
Hand Scoring - Administer assessments on answer sheets and score them quickly yourself with an answer key.
- Allows you to score the assessments at your site.