Completeness and internal consistency of DSM-III criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Clinical observations suggest that anxiety, depression, rage, and alienation might profitably be considered to be criteria for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results of this investigation (N = 69) suggest that inclusion of these variables among the PTSD criteria would be inappropriate. Somatization and/or hypochondriacal fixation, however, appears to be intimately related to combat traumatization and might appropriately be considered for inclusion among the symptoms associated with PTSD. The DSM-III stress-disorder criteria contain five elements that, among substance-abusing veterans, contribute marginally to the diagnosis of PTSD. Accuracy in evaluating for PTSD might not be compromised by considering fitful sleep, concentration problems, memory impairment, memory interference, and survivor guilt to be associated phenomena rather than PTSD criteria. The results are generally consistent with modifications in diagnostic practice suggested in DSM-III-R.