Treatment Outcome PTSD scale

Remission can be monitored with the Treatment Outcome PTSD Scale (score less than or equal to 5) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (score less than or equal to 1 on each item). 

The Treatment Outcome PTSD Scale (TOP-8) is a clinician-rated instrument that measures the presence and severity of eight PTSD symptoms that occur frequently in PTSD patients and are sensitive to treatment. The scale was developed from the Structured Interview for PTSD (SI-PTSD Davidson et at., 1997), an alternative to the SCID. The TOP-8 questions are representative of the three major PTSD symptom dimensions (intrusive, avoidant and hyperarousal symptoms). Each symptom is rated on a defined step scale (0 4), with a high numeric rating indicating greater symptom severity (Davidson and Colket, 1997). The TOP-8 has proved sensitive to changes of PTSD symptoms in studies with antidepressants. 

Patients should be seen weekly for the first month, then biweekly through the second month. During months 3 to 6, patients can be seen monthly, then every 1 to 2 months from months 6 to 12. Responders after 1 year of pharmacotherapy can be seen every 3 months. Patients should be monitored for symptom response, side effects, and treatment adherence. Remission can be monitored with the Treatment Outcome PTSD Scale (score less than or equal to 5) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (score less than or equal to 1 on each item). 

Patients who are nonresponsive to therapy have less than 25% reduction in s)miptoms. Before deciding that a patient is not responsive to pharmacotherapy, the clinician should ensure that the medication trial has been adequate in both dose and duration. Use of an objective measurement of remission of PTSD (e.g., a Treatment Outcome PTSD Scale [TOPS-8] score <5 and a Sheehan Disabdity Scale <1 on each item) can assist in the evaluation of drug response. ... 

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