Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI)

Frederick, Pynoos, & Nader, 1992

Description

The CPTS-RI (also known as the Reaction Index) is a 20-item interviewer-administered scale for children between ages 6 and 17 that assesses some of the DSM-III-R/DSM-IV symptoms for PTSD as well as guilt, impulse control, somatic symptoms, and regressive behaviors. Items are rated on a five point frequency scale (ranging from "none" to "most of the time"). The CPTS-RI yields total scores ranging from 0 to 80 that reflect the frequency of symptoms. Categories of degree of disorder (from doubtful to very severe) can be assigned based on the total scale score. This interview is available in a child’s and a parent’s report version.

Sample Item

Do you ever get scared, afraid, or upset when you think about (event)?

Versions

The UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV (UPID) (Pynoos, et al., 1998) is a revision of the CPTS-RI. It is a 48-item semi-structured interview that assesses a child’s exposure to 26 types of traumatic events and assesses DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria. It includes 19 items to assess the 17 symptoms of PTSD as well as 2 associated symptoms (guilt and fear of event’s recurring).

The CPTS-RI Revision 2 (also referred to as the PTSD Index for DSM-IV; Rodriguez, 2002) is also a revision of the CPTS-RI. It was designed to increase the sensitivity of screening of trauma exposure and criterion A1 and A2 and to provide more guidance for the interviewer and child throughout the interview.

References

Nader, K. (1996). Psychometric review of Childhood PTS Reaction Index (CPTS-RI). In B. H. Stamm (Ed.), Measurement of stress, trauma, and adaptation (pp. 83-86). Lutherville, MD: Sidran Press.

Pynoos, R., Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A., Stuber, M., & Frederick, C. (1998). UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV.

Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A., & Pynoos, R. S. (2001). The Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index, Revision 2.

Additional Reviews

Nader, K. O. (2004). Assessing traumatic experiences in children and adolescents: Self-reports of DSM PTSD Criteria B-D symptoms. In J. Wilson & T. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD, 2nd ed. (pp. 513-537). New York: Guilford Press.

To Obtain Scale

CPTS-RI
Email: measures@twosuns.org

UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV
UCLA Trauma Psychiatry Service
300 Medical Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968
Phone: (310) 206-8973
Email: HFinley@mednet.ucla.edu

CPTS-RI Revision 2
Email: drned@earthlink.net

Measure availability: Information on measures is available to everyone. However, the assessment tools themselves can only be distributed to qualified mental health professionals and researchers. We maintain measures developed by affiliated staff of the National Center for PTSD.