Assessment of Combat-Related Stress and Physical Symptoms of Gulf War Veterans: Criterion Validity of Selected Hand Test Variables
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2005
Description
We examined the utility of selected Hand Test (Wagner, 1983) variables in relation to posttraumatic stress and physical symptoms in Gulf War (GW) veterans. In this study, we sought to replicate and expand on prior empirical findings that have demonstrated efficacy of the Hand Test in the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Walter, Hilsenroth, Arsenault, Sloan, & Harvill, 1998). Based on this previous research, Hand Test variables were selected a priori and examined across three groups of veterans: (a) a control group of participants who were in a reserve unit not deployed to the GW theater of operations, (b) a subclinical group of deployed GW veterans who reported 1 to 5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for PTSD, and (c) a group of deployed GW veterans who met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Analyses demonstrated significant differences across the three groups and significant relationships among selected Hand Test variables with the number of DSM-IV symptoms of PTSD reported in the interviews as well as with the number of physical problems reported by these veterans. We discuss these findings in relation to the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress symptomatology.
Citation Information
Hilsenroth, Mark; Arsenault, Linda; and Sloan, Patrick. 2005. Assessment of Combat-Related Stress and Physical Symptoms of Gulf War Veterans: Criterion Validity of Selected Hand Test Variables. Journal of Personality Assessment. Vol.84(2). 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa8402_05 PMID: 15799890 ISSN: 0022-3891