Background and Purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health concern affecting individuals who have experienced traumatic events. Assessing an individual's readiness to cope with potential PTSD symptoms following a traumatic incident is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment. This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive assessment tool, the PTSD Potential Assessment Test (PTSD-PAT), to measure an individual's preparedness to face PTSD symptoms after a traumatic event.
Method: The study utilized a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the qualitative phase, focus a group of 28 persons who experience Kermanshah province earthquacke were conducted to develop an initial pool of items for the assessment test. In the quantitative phase, the preliminary version of the assessment test was administered to 384 people of earthquake-exposed individuals in Kermanshah province, Iran. They completed PTSD-PAT and the Life Events Inventory (LEI, Jackson, 2009) The validity and reliability of the test were assessed using factor analysis, reliability analysis, and concurrent validity measures.
Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed a coherent factor structure consisting of 6 dimensions related to PTSD potential. Reliability analysis demonstrated high internal consistency and stability of the assessment test. Concurrent validity measures indicated significant correlations between the PTSD-PAT scores and the LEI.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the PTSD-PAT is a reliable and valid tool for assessing individuals' preparedness to cope with PTSD symptoms following a traumatic incident. This assessment tool holds promise for early identification of individuals at risk of developing PTSD and facilitating timely interventions to mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences on mental health. Further research is recommended to validate the test across diverse populations and traumatic contexts.
