27 ways to meet PTSD: Using the PTSD-checklist for DSM-5 to examine PTSD core criteria

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been criticized for including symptoms that substantially overlap with other depression and anxiety disorders. To address this concern, Brewin et al. (2009) reformulated the diagnosis around a core symptom set. Although several studies have examined the utility of the core criteria in predicting diagnostic status, none have done so using a self-report screening instrument. The sample included 617 veterans presenting for outpatient psychological services. As a part of the intake process, veterans completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and were assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Veterans meeting core criteria on the PCL-5 were over 22 times more likely to meet PCL-5 diagnosed PTSD than veterans who met the core criteria on the PCL-5 but did not meet PCL-5 diagnosed PTSD (OR = 22.94; CI [12.76, 41.25]). Further, veterans who met core criteria on the PCL-5 were over 2 times more likely (OR = 2.34; 95.0% CI [1.53, 3.59]) to meet CAPS-5 diagnosed PTSD than veterans who met the core criteria on the PCL-5 but did not meet CAPS-5 diagnosed PTSD. Findings from the current study have implications for the assessment and classification of PTSD.