The British journal of clinical psychology / the British Psychological Society
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Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) takes place in clinical and research settings where diagnostic interviews are not feasible, and typically relies on self-report instruments like the PTSD symptom scale (PSS). Concerns have been raised about the specificity of PTSD symptoms assessed by questionnaires. This study examined whether the PSS distinguishes between patients with PTSD and those with other anxiety disorders or healthy controls. ⋯ The findings suggest that many people screened positive for PTSD may actually be suffering from another anxiety disorder.