Parent Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (PROPS)

The Parent Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (PROPS) is a 30-item questionnaire that assesses the presence and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children and adolescents. It was developed by Pynoos et al. (1995) to be used by parents or other caregivers to report on the PTSD symptoms of their children. The PROPS is a self-report measure that is completed by the parent or caregiver. It takes about 10 minutes to complete.

The PROPS assesses the following PTSD symptoms:

• Recurrent, intrusive thoughts or distressing memories about the event
• Recurrent distressing dreams about the event
• Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (flashbacks)
• Intense psychological distress at exposure to cues that symbolize or resemble the traumatic event
• Avoidance of thinking or talking about the event
• Avoidance of places, people, or activities that remind the child of the event
• Negative changes in mood or cognitions after the event
• Negative changes in physical or social functioning after the event

The PROPS has good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of .90. It also has good test-retest reliability, with a correlation of .80 over a 2-week period.

The PROPS has been shown to be valid in a variety of ways. For example, it has been found to correlate with other measures of PTSD, such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA; Foa, Johnson, Feeny, & Treadwell, 2001). It has also been found to be predictive of negative outcomes, such as academic problems and peer problems.

The PROPS is a useful tool for assessing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. It is a reliable and valid measure that can be used to identify children and adolescents who are at risk for PTSD and to monitor their progress over time.

Here are some of the strengths of the PROPS:

• It is a comprehensive measure of PTSD symptoms.
• It has been shown to be reliable and valid in a variety of research studies.
• It is easy to administer and score.

Here are some of the limitations of the PROPS:

• It is a self-report measure, so it is susceptible to social desirability bias.
• It is a relatively new measure, so there is limited research on its long-term validity.
• It is not available in all languages.

Overall, the PROPS is a useful tool for assessing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. It is a reliable and valid measure that can be used to identify children and adolescents who are at risk for PTSD and to monitor their progress over time.

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