Implementing a screening programme for post-traumatic stress disorder following violent crime

BACKGROUND The emergence of validated means to determine which individuals will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic event has raised the possibility of designing and implementing effective screening programmes following traumatic events. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to study the usefulness and implementation of a PTSD screening programme for victims of violent crime presenting to an emergency unit. DESIGN There were 3,349 individuals who presented to an emergency unit following a violent crime were asked to complete the Trauma Screening Questionnaire 2 weeks later. Those who scored above a standard cut-off were invited to attend a mental health assessment and subsequently offered treatment according to their needs. RESULTS Of the 3,349 individuals contacted, 572 (17.1%) responded, 338 (10.1%) screened positive, 26 (0.78%) attended for assessment, and 9 (0.27%) received treatment for PTSD. CONCLUSIONS This simple screening programme was not as useful as was hoped raising questions regarding how best to develop screening programmes for PTSD following violent crime and other traumatic events.