Description

The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index is a psychometric tool designed to assess the presence and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults. The questionnaire is widely used in clinical, research, and educational settings to identify the impact of traumatic events on mental health.

Purpose

The main goals of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index are:
Assessment of PTSD symptoms: To provide a detailed evaluation of post-traumatic stress symptoms based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5.
Understanding the impact of traumatic events: To examine how traumatic experiences affect individuals’ emotional and psychological well-being.
Support for diagnosis and treatment: To offer information useful for diagnostic evaluation and the design of therapeutic interventions for individuals with PTSD.

Analysis

Analysis of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index includes the following:
Structure and content:
The tool consists of a series of questions corresponding to PTSD criteria as defined in the DSM-5.
The questions explore participants’ experiences with traumatic events and the resulting symptoms.
Diagnostic criteria:
Re-experiencing: Symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive trauma-related memories.
Avoidance: Avoidance behaviors related to trauma reminders, such as people, places, or activities.
Negative alterations in cognition and mood: Negative thoughts about oneself, others, or the world; decreased interest in activities; feelings of detachment.
Hyperarousal: Increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, heightened alertness, and sleep disturbances.
Severity assessment:
Participants rate the frequency and severity of symptoms using a Likert scale, typically a 5-point scale (0 = “never,” 4 = “very often”).

Scoring

Scoring of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index includes:
Total score: A comprehensive measure of the severity of PTSD symptoms based on responses to all items.
Subscale scores: Scores for each symptom category (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations, hyperarousal), allowing analysis of different PTSD dimensions.
The total and subscale scores help identify severe PTSD cases and guide therapeutic intervention.

References

Steinberg, A. M., Brymer, M. J., Decker, K. B., & Pynoos, R. S. (2004). The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index. Current Psychiatry Reports, 6(2), 96–100.
Pynoos, R. S., Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A. M., Stuber, M., & Frederick, C. (1998). The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11(3), 371–384.
Elhai, J. D., Layne, C. M., Steinberg, A. M., Brymer, M. J., Briggs, E. C., Ostrowski, S. A., & Pynoos, R. S. (2013). Psychometric Properties of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index: Part II. Investigating Factor Structure Findings in a National Clinic-Referred Youth Sample. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(1), 10–18.