Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5)
he PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item questionnaire used to measure symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over the past month. Complete the interactive PCL-5 below to receive your score and screening results instantly.
Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful experience. Keeping your worst event in mind, indicate how much you have been bothered by each problem in the past month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PCL-5?
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire used to assess the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms. It can be used to screen for PTSD, monitor symptoms over time and assist with a provisional assessment. It is not intended to diagnose PTSD on its own.
How is the PCL-5 scored?
Each of the 20 questions is scored from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). The scores are added together to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater PTSD symptom severity.
What PCL-5 score may indicate PTSD?
A score of approximately 31–33 or higher is commonly used as a screening threshold for probable PTSD. However, the appropriate cutoff can vary depending on the population and purpose of the assessment. A score above the cutoff does not by itself mean that someone has PTSD.
Is there a mild, moderate or severe PCL-5 score?
No established PCL-5 score ranges currently classify PTSD symptoms as mild, moderate or severe. The National Center for PTSD states that there are currently no empirically derived severity ranges for the PCL-5.
Can the PCL-5 diagnose PTSD?
No. The PCL-5 can help identify a provisional PTSD pattern, but it should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool. A PTSD diagnosis requires further clinical assessment, and the National Center for PTSD identifies the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) as a recommended structured interview.
What do the PCL-5 symptom clusters mean?
The PCL-5 questions correspond to four DSM-5 PTSD symptom clusters: intrusion (Criterion B), avoidance (Criterion C), negative changes in thoughts and mood (Criterion D), and changes in arousal and reactivity (Criterion E). For provisional scoring, a symptom is considered endorsed when it is rated 2 (Moderately) or higher. The scoring rule requires at least 1 Criterion B symptom, 1 Criterion C symptom, 2 Criterion D symptoms and 2 Criterion E symptoms.
What time period does the PCL-5 measure?
The standard PCL-5 asks how much you have been bothered by each symptom during the past month. The National Center for PTSD notes that versions using different timeframes have not been validated in the same way and changing the timeframe may affect the measure's psychometric properties.
How long does the PCL-5 take to complete?
The PCL-5 generally takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete. It is designed as a self-report questionnaire, although it can also be read to someone in person or over the telephone.
Can the PCL-5 be used to track PTSD symptoms over time?
Yes. One purpose of the PCL-5 is to quantify and monitor PTSD symptoms over time. The National Center for PTSD notes that evidence on meaningful change is still limited, but suggests that a change of approximately 10 points can be used as an indicator of treatment response.
