PDS^® (Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale)

Author: Edna B. Foa, PhD

The Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) assessment is designed to aid in the detection and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PDS assessment parallels DSM-IV^® diagnostic criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and may be administered repeatedly over time to help monitor changes in symptoms.

How to Use This Test

This test can be used by psychologists, social workers, and counselors to help:

• Screen for the presence of PTSD in large groups or with patients who have identified themselves as victims of a traumatic event



• Gauge symptom severity and functioning in patients already identified as suffering from PTSD

Key Features

• The test can be administered in just 10-15 minutes.



• The test helps identify the source of a client's pain early on, helping to make treatment planning more effective.



• A diverse normative base offers a distinct advantage over other PTSD instruments that are normed primarily on men suffering from combat-related traumas.

Quick Facts

About the Author

Edna B. Foa, PhD, a professor at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University and director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, is an internationally renowned authority on the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety. Her commitment to delineating etiological frameworks and targeted treatment has been highly influential. She is one of the leading experts in the areas of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and phobias. The program she developed for rape victims is considered to be the most effective therapy for post-trauma sequelae. She has published several books and more than 100 articles and book chapters, has lectured extensively around the world, and was the chair of the OCD work group and co-chair of the PTSD work group for DSM-IV. Dr. Foa has received numerous awards and honors, including the Fulbright Distinguished Professor Award, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Psychological Association, and the first annual Outstanding Research Contribution Award from the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy.

Scales

PTSD Diagnosis (A diagnosis is confirmed if all six DSM-IV criteria are met.)
Symptom Severity Score
Symptom Severity Rating
Level of Impairment of Functioning

Norms

The PDS instrument was normed on a group of 248 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who had experienced a traumatic event at least one month before they took the test. The diverse normative base includes clients of women's shelters, PTSD treatment clinics, and Veterans Administration hospitals, in addition to staff of fire stations and ambulance corps.

Report Options

Profile Report (Product Number 51739)
The profile report indicates a Yes or No for a diagnosis of PTSD. The report indicates if each of the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD was met (Yes, No, or Incomplete Information). Symptom Severity, Number of Symptoms Endorsed, Symptom Severity Rating, and Level of Impairment in Functioning are also reported. There is also a narrative section that summarizes the survey results.

View a sample Profile Report (female).
View a sample Profile Report (male).

Progress Report (Product Number 51622)

This report is designed to monitor a client's progress over time. Provided at no additional charge, it graphically displays changes in a client's Symptom Severity Score and Number of Symptoms Endorsed for up to five previously reported PDS administrations.

View a sample Progress Report (female).
View a sample Progress Report (male).

Scoring Options

Q Local™ Software - Enables you to score assessments, report results, and store and export data on your computer.

Hand Scoring - Administer assessments on answer sheets and score them quickly yourself with an answer key.

Optical Scan Scoring - Allows you to score the assessments at your site.

Common Questions and Answers

When I am in on-line entry, item 13 does not come up for editing.
Item 13 will not come up for editing unless the response to Item 12 is Yes.

I administered the PDS assessment and although the individual did experience a traumatic event, (s)he omitted 8 items. Will I still get a meaningful report?
It is very possible that you will still get a good deal of useful information. The information regarding a PTSD diagnosis will be accurate; however, the symptom severity information may be understated. If more than 12 items are omitted in Parts 2 through 4, it is likely that the results will not be meaningful.

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