Cases in which other events were reported in the event-screening section were reviewed only if they were identified as an event that led to development/worsening or were related in content to all necessary symptom criteria to meet PTSD at the diagnostic level according to the DSM-IV or the DSM-5 using the Same Event PTSD definition described below. Narrative responses were reviewed by four doctoral-level PTSD experts after familiarizing themselves with the DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criterion A definitions and the interview question content assessing DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criterion A events. Reviewers determined whether each open-ended event met Criterion A definitions in the DSM-IV, the DSM-5, or both. In cases of rater disagreements, events were coded using a consensus process.
