An experimental comparison of index traumatic event queries in PTSD assessment

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often assessed based on an individual's self-defined “worst” traumatic event. This method may not be optimal for assessing current PTSD, as it is vague and often does not emphasize events associated with current distress. The purpose of this study was to examine whether providing a more specific index traumatic event query increases the selection traumas associated with higher PTSD symptom ratings. Non-clinical participants endorsing a trauma history (n = 342) received one of the three randomly assigned index event queries and rated their current PTSD symptoms. The queries varied in their emphasis on current distress and description of PTSD criteria. Findings revealed no significant differences between groups, providing preliminary support for the “worst event” method.