Clinical Utility of the Brunel Mood Scale in Screening for Post-Traumatic Stress Risk in a Military Population

Abstract

Measures of mood states and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms are commonplace in many studies. However, the conventional application of these measures conjointly raises questions whether they actually correlate, and whether mood states have a meaningful role in predicting PTS symptoms. This study aimed to assess the degree to which the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) would be useful in detecting adverse psychological experiences (e.g., PTS). A sample of South African Navy sailors (N = 103) completed the BRUMS during demobilization after a traumatic deployment, and 6 weeks later completed a repeat BRUMS and the IES-R. Significant correlations were found between some BRUMS and IES-R subscales, but the lack of other subscale correlations indicates that the two measures probably tap different expressions of psychological distress following exposure to adverse events. Greater mood distress correlated with more severe PTS. A BRUMS total mood distress score cutoff of ≥24 gave a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 79% for severe PTS 6 weeks later. Using a BRUMS score of ≥24 at demobilization to assess for possible elevated PTS response later could be useful in the screening of large groups of people.