The number of traumatic events an individual experienced was assessed using a checklist of 19 items occurring in the individual's entire lifetime including the following: (1) combat or war-zone exposure, (2) rape, (3) sexual assault, (4) shot or stabbed, (5) tortured or kidnapped, (6) mugged or threatened with a weapon, (7) badly beaten, (8) serious motor vehicle accident or injury, (9) serious accident or injury, (10) natural disaster, (11) diagnosed with life-threatening disease, (12) child diagnosed with life-threatening disease, (13) witnessed murder or serious injury, (14) discovered a dead body, (15) learned that a close friend or relative was raped or sexually assaulted, (16) learned that a close friend or relative was physically attacked, (17) learned that a close friend or relative was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash, (18) learned that a close friend or relative was injured in any accident and (19) sudden death of a close friend or relative. The number of items endorsed was summed to create a score that could range from 0–19. Higher scores reflect having experienced a greater number of traumatic events.
