Screening for psychologically traumatized rape victims.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the General Health Questionnaire, a simple psychological screening instrument, could be useful to non-specialists in screening for psychologically traumatized rape victims.
Study Design: 285 rape victims (mean age 22.5, men 8%) attending consecutively a Consultation for Victims of Psychological Trauma at the University Hospital in Tours, France, were assessed through the Structured Interview for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD), and the French 28-item version of the self-rated General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).
Results: 70% had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and 72% a GHQ-28 overthreshold score. The principal component analysis of the GHQ-28 ratings yielded a 4-factor solution: social dysfunction, feeling of foreshortened future type of depression, somatoform complaints and hyperalertness anxiety. GHQ-28 reliability and validity in screening for PTSD were studied through computation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.95), sensitivity (88%) and positive predictive value (86%). CONCCLUSION: Using the GHQ-28 is valid and appropriate for practical use.