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 1-month follow-up. A total of 139 participants were included (n = 139; ± 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 1 month after injury. RESULTS: Forty 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 1 month after injury. The ITSS is a short, easily administered tool that can aid in reducing the untreated cases of PTSD and depression. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017;82: 93-101.