Diagnostic accuracy of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM‐5 (PC‐PTSD‐5) within a civilian primary care sample

Objective This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) (PC‐PTSD‐5) as a screening tool for the identification of PTSD among a civilian sample receiving behavioral health treatment within a primary care setting. Validation within a civilian sample will increase the generalizability of the PC‐PTSD‐5 as a brief screening measure to identify PTSD within primary care practices. Method The present study is a retrospective review of data (N = 198) collected as part of a patient registry for an integrated behavioral health consultation service within a primary care clinic. The PC‐PTSD‐5 was administered as part of a standardized set of brief screening measures and a standard clinical interview. Diagnostic validation was accomplished via a consensus model between a board‐certified family medicine physician and a licensed psychologist along with medical/psychology trainees. Results Fifty‐two participants (26.26%) out of 198 who completed the PC‐PTSD‐5 were diagnosed with PTSD. The PC‐PTSD‐5 demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.933, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.901–0.965). A cutoff score of 4 maximized sensitivity (sensitivity% = 100) while maintaining acceptable specificity (specificity% = 85.2). This score also maximized efficiency (κ[0.5] = 0.77, SE = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.67–0.86) and maintained a good (≥0.60) quality index for specificity (κ[0] = 0.61). Conclusion The PC‐PTSD‐5 maintained strong diagnostic accuracy within a civilian primary care sample.