Screening for PTSD among Incarcerated Men: A Comparative Analysis of Computer-Administered and Orally Administered Modalities

• Published in: Criminal justice and behavior 2015-02, Vol.42 (2), p.219-236
• Main Authors: Wolff, Nancy, Mchugo, Gregory, Shi, Jing, Huening, Jessica, Frueh, B. Christopher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Correlation analysis; Imprisonment; Morbidity; Post traumatic stress disorder; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0093-8548; 1552-3594
• DOI: 10.1177/0093854814551601

Trauma exposure is overrepresented in incarcerated male populations and is linked to psychiatric morbidity, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study tests the feasibility, reliability, and validity of using computer-administered interviewing (CAI) versus orally administered interviewing (OAI) to screen for PTSD among incarcerated men. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to randomly assign 592 incarcerated men to screening modality. Findings indicate that computer screening was feasible. Compared with OAI, CAI produced equally reliable screening information on PTSD symptoms, with test–retest intraclass correlations for the PTSD Checklist (PCL) total score ranging from .774 to .817, and the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale and PCL scores were significantly correlated for OAI and CAI. These findings indicate that data on PTSD symptoms can be reliably and validly obtained from CAI technology, increasing the efficiency by which incarcerated populations can be screened for PTSD, and those at risk can be identified for treatment.