Validation of a brief measure of posttraumatic stress disorder: the Distressing Event Questionnaire (DEQ).

The Distressing Event Questionnaire (DEQ) is a brief instrument for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to criteria provided in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). The DEQ possesses high internal consistency and exhibited satisfactory short-term temporal stability in studies with Vietnam War combat veterans and battered women.

PTSD among women survivors of domestic violence in Hawaii.

Empirical evidence suggests that between 33% and 83% of Hawaii women receiving services from programs that serve battered women meet diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, PTSD symptom severity is associated with depression severity, lowered self-esteem, and diminished quality of life. Combined with evidence that domestic violence often goes on for years, these findings provide additional compelling reasons why domestic violence screening should be conducted routinely in medical settings.