Modification of the Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire to enhance clinical utility

Objective: To enhance the clinical utility of the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Questionnaire (PPQ), the current study sought to refine the measure by changing the item response options from dichotomous choices to a likert scale format. Study Design: Using a convergent/divergent validity design and two data sources (traditional survey and World Wide Web), 58 high-risk and 86 low-risk mothers answered four questionnaires. Results: Principal components analysis of items on the modified PPQ revealed three components conceptually similar to the diagnostic criterion associated with PTSD. In addition, convergent and divergent validity of the modified measure was supported. The clinical utility of the modified PPQ was established with a strong positive likelihood ratio. Conclusion: The modified PPQ is a useful clinical tool for identifying mothers experiencing significant emotional distress during the postnatal period so they may be referred for mental health services.