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The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McDonald, SD; Calhoun, PS
Published in: Clin Psychol Rev
December 2010

The PTSD Checklist (PCL) is the most frequently used self-report measure of PTSD symptoms. Although the PCL has been in use for nearly 20 years and over a dozen validation studies have been conducted, this paper provides the first comprehensive review of its diagnostic utility. Eighteen diagnostic accuracy studies of the PCL are presented, followed by an examination of the potential roles of spectrum effects, bias, and prevalence in understanding the variation in sensitivity, specificity, and other operating characteristics across these studies. Two related issues as to the interchangeability of the PCL's three versions (civilian, military, and specific) and various scoring methods are also discussed. Findings indicate that the PCL has several strengths as a PTSD screening test and suggest that it can be a useful tool when followed by a second-tier diagnostic test such as a standardized interview. However, the PCL's operating characteristics demonstrate significant variation across populations, settings, and research methods and few studies have examined such factors that may moderate the PCL's utility. Recommendations and cautions regarding the use of the PCL as a clinical screening test, a diagnostic tool in research, and as an estimator of PTSD population prevalence are provided.

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Published In

Clin Psychol Rev

DOI

EISSN

1873-7811

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

30

Issue

8

Start / End Page

976 / 987

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Psychometrics
  • Personality Inventory
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Checklist
 

Citation

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McDonald, S. D., & Calhoun, P. S. (2010). The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review. Clin Psychol Rev, 30(8), 976–987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.06.012
McDonald, Scott D., and Patrick S. Calhoun. “The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review.Clin Psychol Rev 30, no. 8 (December 2010): 976–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.06.012.
McDonald SD, Calhoun PS. The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Dec;30(8):976–87.
McDonald, Scott D., and Patrick S. Calhoun. “The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review.Clin Psychol Rev, vol. 30, no. 8, Dec. 2010, pp. 976–87. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.06.012.
McDonald SD, Calhoun PS. The diagnostic accuracy of the PTSD checklist: a critical review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Dec;30(8):976–987.
Journal cover image

Published In

Clin Psychol Rev

DOI

EISSN

1873-7811

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

30

Issue

8

Start / End Page

976 / 987

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Psychometrics
  • Personality Inventory
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Checklist