Screening for PTSD and depression in Bosnia and Herzegovina: validating the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist

Abstract

This study aimed to test the validity of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), respectively, in primary healthcare centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Validating interviews were conducted with 180 randomly selected primary care patients in Middle Bosnia. Statistical analysis performed to assess diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic materials revealed an optimal cut-off points of 2.06 on the HTQ for the diagnosis of PTSD and 1.8 on the HSCL-25 for the diagnosis of MDD. The HTQ and HSCL-25 are accurate and useful for identifying PTSD and MDD in primary care centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Keywords:

• major depressive disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• primary healthcare
• instrument validation
• Bosnia and Herzegovina