Frequently Asked Questions

There is an easy to use SCORE SHEET that you will find on the last page of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5. Licensing of the Index also provides the user with access to SCORING SOFTWARE.

The SCORING SOFTWARE output includes the following features:

• A rating of each symptom of 0-4, also represented visually by green, yellow, and red traffic lights
• A summary score for each of the B, C, D, and E symptom categories
• A total PTSD symptom score. There is separate score for PTSD-related dissociative symptoms.

There is a convenient table on the SCORE SHEET where you can check off symptom scores, duration of symptoms, and distress and impairment requirements for making a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD and Dissociative Subtype.

Yes, it is 35. This score has the greatest sensitivity and specificity for identifying children and adolescents who would meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Children and adolescents with scores above 35 are very likely to meet full diagnostic criteria for PTSD. However, those who score below 35 may nevertheless have significant symptom-related distress and impairment to require clinical attention and treatment.

Depending on the type of trauma, children and adolescents may have exposure to multiple types of trauma. The clinician should determine which trauma “bothers you the most now,” and ask the PTSD symptom questions with regard to that identified trauma. If a child or adolescent has two traumas that are equally bothersome, the clinician may wish to ask symptom questions with respect to each type of trauma. Completing the Trauma History Profile section will give you a developmental map of a child’s or adolescent’s trauma and loss history.

There are two assessment tools. There is a Child/Adolescent Self-Report and Parent/Caregiver Report used for children, adolescents, and young adults ages 7-21, and a Parent/Caregiver Report for Children Age 6 and Younger.

The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 for Children Age 6 and Younger was designed and tested for use as a parent/caregiver interview with modified criteria for PTSD in DSM-5 for this age group. It was developed in collaboration with Alicia Lieberman, Ph.D. and Joy Osofsky, Ph.D., two past Presidents of Zero to Three. The Trauma History section, the PTSD symptom items, and the questions about behavior and functioning have been designed with attention to developmental appropriateness.

The Child/Adolescent Self-Report, the Parent/Caregiver Report, and the Age 6 and Younger version are available in several languages, including English, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. We are regularly updating all of our tools for use in additional languages. If you have other questions about translations, please send an email to info@reactionindex.com.

Behavioral Health Innovations and one of our partners, Hathaway- Sycamores Child and Family Services can provide customized training and implementation consulting. Please contact us at info@reactionindex.com to learn more.

BHI offers discounted rates for any purchase of 2,500 or more administrations. Please contact us at info@reactionindex.com for more information.

We also want to support research and charitable causes, and provide a limited number of copies of the instrument at a reduced or no charge. Please contact us at info@reactionindex.com for more information.

The American Psychiatric Association revised the criteria for the diagnosis of PTSD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013. This version is designated “DSM-5.” The symptom categories have been revised, and there is a new “Dissociative Subtype.” Using the older DSM-IV version of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index will no longer allow you to properly assess the symptom profile or establish a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD.

BHI is committed to the incorporation of the Index in EHRMS solutions from vendors and systems developed in house. We have plans to develop a version of the Index that is compatible with the emerging interface standard of FHIR and will be reporting our progress on our website. Any organization desiring to integrate the Reaction Index into their EHRMS should contact us at info@reactionindex.com to discuss a licensing agreement and implementation details.

Go to the products section via the PRODUCTS link on the top menu, then click the PURCHASE button for the instrument you want. Follow the payment process on the checkout page. Once the order is complete, you will receive an order confirmation email that contains the LINK to download the materials. You can also use your LOGIN CREDENTIAL to download the materials directly from the website. For more details about downloading the materials, check the Instrument Download Instruction Page.