Utility of the injured trauma survivor screen to predict PTSD and depression during hospital admission

BACKGROUND: The brief, easily administered screen, the Injured Trauma Survivor Screen (ITSS) was created to identify trauma survivors at risk for development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS: An item pool of PTSD risk factors was created and given, along with a previously created screen, to patients admitted to two level 1 trauma centers. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised were given during a one-month follow-up. 139 participants were included (n = 139; μ age = 41.06; 30.9% female; 47.5% White/Caucasian; 39.6% Black/African American; 10.1% Latino/Hispanic; 1.4%; American Indian; and 1.4% other). Stepwise bivariate logistic regression was used to determine items most strongly associated with PTSD and depression diagnosis one-month post injury. RESULTS: 40 participants met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and 28 for depression at follow-up (22 comorbid). ROC curve analysis was used to determine sensitivity (PTSD = 75.00, Depression = 75.00), specificity (PTSD = 93.94, Depression = 95.5), NPV (PTSD = 90.3, Depression = 80.8) and PPV (PTSD = 83.3, Depression = 93.8) of the final nine item measure. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the utility of a predictive screen, the ITSS, to predict which injured trauma survivors admitted to the hospital are at the most risk for developing symptoms of PTSD and depression one-month post injury. The ITSS is a short, easily administered tool that can aid in reducing the untreated cases of PTSD and depression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, Level III.