Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis

In the second study, Ruscio, Ruscio, and Keane (2002) examined the taxonicity of PTSD in a large sample of male combat veterans (N = 1,230), who were seen at the Behavioral Sciences Division of the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System s National Center for posttraumatic stress disorder between 1985 and 2000. All the participants completed the Mississippi scale (Keane, Caddell,. Taylor, 1988), a 35-item measure of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms rated on a five-point scale a subset of this sample (n = 841) was assessed with the Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS), an interview measure of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms that a clinician rates on a five-point scale. According to the CAPS, 68% of the sample qualified for a posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis. 

Lecrubier Y. Posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care a hidden diagnosis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 65 (suppl l) 49-54. 

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a response to a recognizable, serious stressor that is characterized by specific behaviors. At present, in the general population prevalence rates range between 3% and 6% (Kessler, Son-nega, Bromet, Hughes, Nelson, 1995). A diagnosis of... 

Lecrubier, Y. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Primary Care A Hidden Diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 65(Suppl. l) 49-54, 2004... 

Symptoms of anxiety and panic are commonly associated with a dependency on life support, communication difficulties, and uncertainty regarding health status (2). Many patients meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-fV) criteria for diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or a panic disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder is sometimes the result of being close to death as well as the subsequent ICU experiences (3). If unmanaged, such psychiatric conditions will have important clinical consequences on adherence to recommended care and participation in rehabilitation. They will undoubtedly also influence health-related quality of life. 

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