A longitudinal evaluation of the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD in detecting war-related stress symptomatology

Abstract

The long-term psychological effects of war-related stress were assessed 3 years after the Persian Gulf War with the Mississippi Scale for Desert Storm War Zone Personnel (M-PTSD-DS), developed from the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD (M-PTSD; Keane, Caddell, and Taylor, 1988). The M- PTSD-DS scores of 30 Marine reservists were compared with the number of DSM- III-R PTSD criteria each met at two points in time, initially at 3 months after the Gulf War and again 3 years later. Findings support the construct validity (sensitivity) of this scale in the immediate and longitudinal measurement of relatively nonpathological degrees of war-related stress in reservists not involved in direct fighting. Initial level of PTSD symptomatology upon returning from a war zone was predictive of M-PTSD-DS scores 3 years later. This scale was effective in detecting varying degrees of war-related stress in this self-selected group of reservists and warrants further study.