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, 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.

Use of the Rorschach in the Assessment of War-Related Stress in Military Personnel

“…Over the last 10 years, our research group has examined the Rorschach characteristics of matched groups of deployed and nondeployed GW veterans, as well as investigated the relationship among selected Rorschach variables and commonly used self-report instruments that have shown utility in the evaluation of war-related PTS and PTSD (Sloan, Arsenault, Hilsenroth, Harvill & Handler, 1995; Sloan, Arsenault, Hilsenroth, Handler & Harvill, 1996). The findings supported existing research utilizing objective measures that indicate war experiences other than direct fighting may have distinct psychological effects on soldiers (Berk et al, 1989; Fontana et al, 1992; Klingman, 1992; Perconte et al, 1993; Sloan, Arsenault, Hilsenroth, & Harvill, 1995; Sloan, Arsenault, Hilsenroth, & Harvill, 1996; Sloan, Arsenault, & Hilsenroth, 1998; Solomon et al, 1993; Weisenberg et al, 1993; Zeidner, Klingman & Itskowitz, 1993).…”