Table 3. Definition of PTSD used in this study.

	DSM IV criteria	PTSD criteria used in this study
Criteria A	Exposure to event threatening life or body integrity of self or loved one	Diagnosed with cancer or Sibling diagnosed with cancer
Criteria B	Re-experiencing: (1 symptom required) *	Uncontrollable upsetting thoughts/images Having bad dreams/nightmares Reliving your illness Feeling upset when reminded about illness Physical reactions when reminded about illness
Criteria C	Avoidance: (3 symptoms required)*	Not thinking/talking/feeling about illness Avoiding activities/people/places that are reminders about illness Forgetting important experiences about illness Less interest in important activities Feeling distant/cut off from people Feeling numb Believing future plans/hopes will not come true
Criteria D	Arousal (2 symptoms required)*	Trouble falling/staying asleep Feeling irritable/having fits of anger Trouble concentrating Overly alert Jumpy/easily startled
Criteria E	Duration	More than 30 days after the traumatic event
Criteria F	Functional Impairment or Significant Distress	Significant distress defined as T-score ≥ 63 on the Global Status Index (GSI) scale from the BSI or T-score ≥ 63 on any two of the following three BSI factors: Depression, Anxiety, Somatization Functional Impairment defined as T-score ≤ 40 on the “role limitations due to emotional health ” factor from the SF-36