THE STRESS EVENTS TEST: THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF AN INSTRUMENT TO PREDICT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS (VIETNAM VETERANS, ASSESSMENT)

This study represents an initial examination of the psychometric properties of the Stress Events Test (SET) developed by Patternson et al. (1981). The purposes of the SET include: (1) psychiatric screening of traumatized individuals; (2) research applications into post-traumatic symptomatology. Subjects for this study include 336 Vietnam era veterans divided into three groups: combat Vietnam veterans (140), support Vietnam veterans (101), and Vietnam era veterans who did not serve in the Vietnam (95). Numerous research studies have demonstrated a higher incidence of PTSD symptomatology among combat veterans and it is expected that the SET will be able to differentiate between these groups of veterans. The SET initial examination reveals that the SET is both a reliable and valid measure of PTSD. The SET is internally consistent and stable over time. The SET proves to have convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity. Moderately low positive correlations between the SET and the Tr and Carelessness scale of the MMPI indicate the possibility of faking on the SET. Future research with the instrument is warranted and clinicians are warned to interpret SET test results carefully.