If you are in an immediate crisis, please go to your nearest Emergency Room, or call 911, or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to talk to someone right now.
Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS)
Krinsley et al., 1996
Description
The Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS) is an assessment
protocol for adolescents or adults comprised of a self-report
questionnaire and semi-structured interview that examines a range
of traumatic experiences across the lifespan. The 56-item
questionnaire assesses experiences with disasters, illnesses,
accidents, violence, combat, and other traumas by offering 4
response options (“yes, I can remember this,”
“I’m not sure if this happened,” “No, but
this happened to someone else in my family” and “No,
this did not happen”). The 56-item interview is organized
into 9 modules (some of which are optional) that examine the
non-negative responses on the questionnaire by providing specific
probe questions for each item.
The interview provides a way to
explore dimensions of each trauma including trauma type,
perpetrators/victims, duration, frequency, perceptions of threats
and emotional response, and others. A summary of the information
can be captured in the Traumatic Events Summary prepared by the
interviewer. Finally, an in-depth querying interview is provided to
assess the worst two or three events to examine dimensions such as
dissociation, disclosure, and treatment. This measure was designed
to be sensitive clinically by allowing for vague responses and by
introducing less emotionally evocative questions first and is
suitable for both research and clinical purposes.
Sample Item
Have you ever been in a war zone or other very dangerous area?
(“Yes, this happened to me,” “I’m not sure
if this happened,” “No, but this happened to someone I
knew,” “No, this did not happen”)
References
Krinsley, K. E., Gallagher, J. G., Weathers, F. W., Kaloupek,
D. G., & Vielhauer, M. (1997). Reliability and validity of the
Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors questionnaire. Unpublished
manuscript. Krinsley, K. (1996).
Psychometric review of the
Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS) Questionnaire &
Interview. In B.H. Stamm (Ed.).
Measurement of stress, trauma and
adaptation (pp.160-162). Lutherville, MD: Sidran Press.
Additional Reviews
Orsillo (2001) p. 299.
Orsillo, Susan M. (2001). Measures for acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. In M.M. Antony & S.M. Orsillo (Eds.), Practitioner's guide to empirically based measures of anxiety (pp. 255-307). New York: KluwerAcademic/Plenum. PILOTS ID 24368
To obtain scale, contact
D. Kaloupek, PhD
Behavioral Science Division National Center for PTSD (116B-2)
VA Boston Healthcare System
150 South Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02130
From the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,
US Department of Veterans Affairs.
www.mentalhealth.va.gov
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD FAQs
Treatment of PTSD
How common is PTSD?
What can I do if I think I have PTSD?
Helping a Family Member Who Has PTSD
How is PTSD Measured?
Traumatic Stress in Female Veterans
FAQs About PTSD Assessment
DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD
FAQs About PTSD Assessment: For Professionals
Trauma Exposure Measures
Chart - Trauma Exposure Measures
Potential Stressful Events Interview (PSEI)
Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ)
Trauma Assessment for Adults—Self-report (TAA)
Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ)
Trauma History Screen (THS)
Traumatic Events Questionnaire (TEQ)
Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ)
Traumatic Stress Schedule (TSS)
Combat Exposure Scale (CES)
Evaluation of Lifetime Stressors (ELS)
Life Stressor Checklist—Revised (LSC-R)
Trauma Exposure Measures
PTSD Screening Instruments
Below is a list of links to information on select PTSD Screens, brief questionnaires completed in order to identify people who are more likely to have PTSD. A positive response to the screen does not necessarily indicate that a patient has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. However, a positive response does indicate that a patient may have PTSD or trauma-related problems and further investigation of trauma symptoms by a mental-health professional may be warranted.
Chart - Screens for PTSD
Short Form of the PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version
Short Screening Scale for PTSD
The SPAN
SPRINT
The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD)
Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ)
Beck Anxiety Inventory – Primary Care (BAI-PC)
PTSD Screening
PLEASE NOTE: Screens are to be used to determine possible problems, and positive cases should be followed up by assessment with a structured interview for PTSD.
Common Reactions to Trauma
People experience a range of reactions following trauma. Here you will find information on what these common reactions are, including anger, nightmares, sleep problems, and more.
Avoidance
Nightmares
Anger and Trauma
Sleep and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What Are the Traumatic Stress Effects of Terrorism?
Common Reactions After Trauma
Where to Get Help
If you are in an immediate crisis, please go to your nearest Emergency Room, or call 911, or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to talk to someone right now.
