SPRINT Psychometrics

There have been a number of published articles on the SPRINT PTSD self-rating scale. The original report by Connor and Davidson appeared in 2001 and a full bibliography appears below.

The literature has shown that the PTSD self-rating scale can discriminate between those with and without PTSD, and that it reflects clinical change in those who are receiving treatment for PTSD, with differences in magnitude of change being found when two treatments have different efficacy.

The initial report by Connor & Davidson (2001) showed good internal
consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.77- 0.87), a one factor structure, test-retest reliability of 0.778 (n=67), inter-rater reliability of r = 0.99, and
convergent validity relative to comparable scales of r = 0.781 for the
CAPS (n = 20) (Vaishnavi et al, 2006), and r = 0.73, r = – 0.72 and r =
0.31-0.72 for the Davidson Trauma Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience
Scale and Sheehan Disability Scale (n = 10 to n = 66) (Connor &
Davidson, 2001).

Mean SPRINT score for the general USA population
with exposure to at least one qualifying trauma (n = 438) was 4.25, and
for those with full (n = 14), partial (n = 104) and no (n = 320) PTSD the
scores were 17.2, 17.5 and 7.0. When compared to a separate measure
of PTSD severity, the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (CGI-S)
scale, SPRINT scores for those with no symptoms, mild, moderate,
marked and severe PTSD were 6.5, 10.6, 16.9, 18.7 and 22.9.
In a Romanian sample in whom the self-rated SPRINT (SPRINT-SR) was
used, Herta et al (2013, 2017) reported a Cronbach’s α = 0.903, and no
difference in scale score between men and women.

Kim et al (2008) studied the scale in Korean subjects with PTSD (n = 87),
other psychiatric conditions (n = 47) and healthy controls (n = 63).
Mean SPRINT scores in the three groups were 22.0, 7.6 and 1.2. The Cronbach α was = 0.86 (n = 87), test-retest reliability was r = 0.82 (n =
51), and convergent validity was demonstrated relative to the CAPS (r =
0.71) and Beck Depression Inventory (r = 0.62). Divergent validity was
shown relative to the STAI-S and STAI-T (r = 0.11). Biological validity was
demonstrated by Krystal et al (2013) on various polysomnographic
measures (see below).

Jurcik and colleagues (2019) studied 99 Canadian immigrants, finding a
mean scale score of 11.44, and a Cronbach’s α = 0.91. Convergent
validity was shown versus the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ),
CES-D depression scale and Perceived Discrimination Scale (r = 0.44, r =
o.58 and r = 0.20). Divergent validity was shown in the absence of any
significant correlation between the SPRINT PTSD self-rating scale and measures of ethnic density and acculturation.

Additional information about the SPRINT can be found at the National Center for Biotechnology Information site.

To learn more about the PTSD SPRINT scale, navigate to the following pages on the site:

Requests to obtain the SPRINT can be sent to mail@cd-risc.com.

To learn more about post-traumatic stress, visit the NIMH page on the topic.