Jonathan Davidson, M.D.
The DTS™ was developed by Jonathan Davidson, cochair of the DSM-IV™ PTSD Task Force and one of the leading authorities in the field. The DTS provides a quick and accurate measure of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. It can be used to evaluate psychopathology in trauma victims, assess the effectiveness of treatment, and predict treatment success.
18 and Older
Self
10 minutes
17
B
Handscored
18 and Older
Self
10 minutes
17
B
Handscored
Startle, Physiological Arousal, Anxiety, and Numbness (SPAN)
Based on the DTS assessment, this 4-item questionnaire screens for critical indicators of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Respondents are asked to refer to a particular traumatic event or series of events and designate symptom severity within the past week using a 5-point rating scale. The SPAN scale is ideal for use in primary care offices, multidiscipline clinics, and for research purposes. A total score is used to indicate which clients could be referred for more comprehensive screening and follow-up, including a DTS administration.
Respondents are asked to rate each of the 17 items referring to a particular traumatic event, or series of events, according to level of distress based on their ratings of symptoms that have occurred during the past week. Both frequency and severity are rated for each item. If the respondent has experienced multiple traumatic episodes, multiple copies of the DTS may be administered.
A total score, reflecting both frequency and severity ratings for all 17 items and separate ratings for the total frequency and total severity of all 17 items, can be used to interpret results. The 3 clusters—Intrusive, Avoidance/Numbing, and Hyperarousal—can be scored separately as well. Intrusion symptoms are covered in 5 items corresponding to Cluster B in DSM-IV™; 7 items correspond to Avoidance and Numbing, Cluster C in DSM-IV™; and 5 items correspond to Hyperarousal, Cluster D in DSM-IV™. A table that gives relative frequencies for individuals with and without PTSD at given DTS scores is also integrated into the form. This table aids in the interpretation of the respondent’s Total DTS score.
The DTS is suitable for adults who have an eighth-grade reading level or higher and is appropriate for both individual and group administrations.
Scientific Validation
Because the DTS items were selected to represent each of the defining symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in DSM-IV™, the scale can be useful in assessing diagnostic probability and the frequency and severity of PTSD symptoms.
Detailed data are presented, including:
The DTS was developed and tested in broad-based samples totaling over 400 subjects, inclusive of men and women and different traumata. Subjects were recruited from four clinical research studies of PTSD groups. Study 1 was composed of 78 female rape victims in treatment at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. Study 2 included 53 Hurricane Andrew victims from Florida. Study 3 consisted of 110 male combat veterans seen at Durham Veterans' Administration Medical Center, North Carolina. Study 4 consisted of 102 individuals in a multi-center clinical trial throughout the United States The DTS Manual documents specific demographic aspects of the sample.
Select Language of Tool:
Online
Assess easily online from anywhere. Includes automatic scoring and report generation.
Software
Requires software. Includes automatic scoring and report generation.
Handscored
QuikScore forms are scored by hand without reports.
DTS Forms
DTS QuikScore Forms