Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with African Americans

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly debilitating mental health condition that disproportionately afflicts greater numbers of African Americans. Despite the comparatively higher rate of PTSD among this group, the vast majority of tools for assessing this disorder have been validated using primarily non-Hispanic White samples. This chapter presents the most widely used measures for identifying a PTSD diagnosis in adults and children, and evaluates their relevance for use with African Americans. Of the 14 adult measures investigated, 3 were validated using a primarily African American sample. The psychometric properties of 8 have been investigated with respect to African Americans, however, typically only internal consistency was reported. Of the 9 child measures, none were validated using a primarily African American sample and psychometric properties of only 4 have been investigated relevant to this group. Using measures validated in White samples to identify PTSD in African Americans is a questionable practice. Also discussed is the need to recognize racism as a potential source of trauma in African Americans, and the implications of changes in the DSM-5 for assessment of PTSD and race-based trauma.