Evaluation of Screening Tests for PTSD

Screening programs are an essential component of preventative medicine for conditions of public health importance. For a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screening program to be effective, valid screening tests are essential. Thus, it is essential for clinicians to be aware of how to evaluate studies of screening test utility for applicability and validity. This chapter (1) reviews the principal components of a diagnostic accuracy study for a screening test, (2) describes the method for finding appropriate diagnostic accuracy studies for a screening test of interest, and (3) outlines how to evaluate the quality and applicability of diagnostic accuracy studies for PTSD screening tests.