PTSD test (PCL-5)
See what the PCL-5 covers, how its total is read against a provisional cut-off, and what that result does and does not mean. This is a sensitive subject, so the page keeps a careful, supportive tone.
The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a short, public-domain questionnaire about how strongly the symptoms of post-traumatic stress have been present over the past month, in response to a specific stressful or traumatic experience. It was developed by Weathers and colleagues at the US National Center for PTSD in 2013 and is the most widely used self-report PTSD measure in the world. It takes about five minutes to answer.
The model
What it measures
The PCL-5 covers one thing: how much someone has been bothered, over the past month, by the twenty symptoms that make up post-traumatic stress in the DSM-5. A person is asked to keep their worst experience in mind and rate how strongly each problem has shown up since.
The twenty items fall into four symptom clusters - unwanted re-experiencing, avoidance, negative shifts in thoughts and mood, and being on high alert. These are not separately scored subscales for screening; the PCL-5 produces a single total. A higher total means the symptoms have been stronger and more frequent. Many people carry some of these reactions after a hard event, and that on its own is a normal human response, not a verdict about a person.
- PPTSD symptoms
How strongly the post-traumatic stress symptoms have shown up over the past month, in response to a specific stressful experience.
Facets: Unwanted memories or reliving, Distressing dreams, Avoiding reminders, Negative beliefs about self or the world, Persistent low or fearful mood, Feeling distant from others, Being on guard (hypervigilance), Startle, sleep and concentration.
The evidence
Science and validity
The PCL-5 is one of the best-validated self-report trauma measures available. Internal consistency is excellent - Cronbach's alpha is typically around .94 - and test-retest reliability is high. It corresponds closely to structured clinical interviews and is sensitive to change, so it is widely used to track symptoms over the course of support or treatment. Its twenty items map one-to-one onto the twenty DSM-5 PTSD symptoms.
Each item is rated 0 (not at all), 1 (a little bit), 2 (moderately), 3 (quite a bit) or 4 (extremely) for the past month, giving a total from 0 to 80. There are no population percentiles; the total is read against a provisional cut-off. Validation work by Bovin and colleagues (2016) places that provisional threshold at roughly 31 to 33, with the exact figure depending on the setting. A total at or above the cut-off suggests it may help to speak with a qualified mental-health professional, who can carry out a full assessment. The PCL-5 is also tied to a specific identifying event, so it is normally used alongside a trauma-history step rather than on its own.
How it is scored
Score bands and what they mean
This is a screening questionnaire. The total is read against established cut-off bands, not a population percentile and not a diagnosis - the bands flag how strongly recent symptoms are showing up, and where it may help to talk to someone.
- 0-30Below the provisional cut-offPost-traumatic stress is less likely on this screen; if distress persists, a professional can still help.
- 31-33Around the provisional cut-offAt the threshold where a fuller assessment with a qualified professional is recommended.
- 34-80At or above the provisional cut-offSymptoms are notable; a professional assessment is recommended, and support is available and effective.
How it works
What the questions feel like
Illustrative statements showing the style of the items. These are examples, not the official scored items.
In the past month, how much have you been bothered by unwanted, upsetting memories of a stressful experience?
Illustrative example in the style of the screener, not the official scored item.
In the past month, how much have you been bothered by avoiding reminders of the experience (places, people or activities)?
Illustrative example, not the official scored item.
In the past month, how much have you been bothered by feeling distant or cut off from other people?
Illustrative example, not the official scored item.
In the past month, how much have you been bothered by being super-alert, watchful or easily startled?
Illustrative example, not the official scored item.
Honest strengths and limitations
Strengths
- The most widely used and best-validated self-report PTSD measure in the world, in 30+ languages.
- Short (about five minutes), fully public domain and free to use.
- A clear provisional cut-off that makes a total easy to interpret and to track gently over time.
Limitations
- It is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis - a higher total signals that a conversation with a qualified professional may help, not that a condition is present.
- It is tied to a specific stressful event, so the result depends on which experience a person has in mind while answering.
- Like all self-reports it reflects how someone feels right now and can shift with sleep, recent reminders and how the questions are read; symptoms after a hard event are a common human response.
Checking in on how you are doing?
Screeners like this are informational, not a diagnosis. The free Snapshot is a private, structured way to check in on how you have been feeling lately.
Frequently asked questions
What does the PCL-5 measure?
It covers how strongly the twenty post-traumatic stress symptoms have been present over the past month, in response to a specific stressful or traumatic experience. The symptoms span unwanted re-experiencing, avoidance, negative shifts in thoughts and mood, and being on high alert. It produces a single total from 0 to 80.
How is the PCL-5 scored?
Each item is rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely) for the past month and the twenty items are summed for a total of 0 to 80. The total is read against a provisional cut-off of around 31 to 33 rather than a percentile. A total at or above the cut-off suggests it may help to speak with a qualified professional for a full assessment.
Is the PCL-5 a diagnosis?
No. The PCL-5 is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis. A higher total means it may help to speak with a qualified mental-health professional, who can look at the full picture with care. If you are struggling or in crisis, please contact a qualified professional or a local crisis or helpline service - in many countries you can call or text a free 24/7 mental-health helpline.
Can I take the PCL-5 on Psychology.me?
This page is informational - we do not offer the PCL-5 itself. If you would like a private, gentle way to check in on how you have been feeling, the free wellbeing Snapshot is a supportive place to start.
Related tests
- Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD, www.ptsd.va.gov.
- Bovin, M. J., Marx, B. P., Weathers, F. W., Gallagher, M. W., Rodriguez, P., Schnurr, P. P., & Keane, T. M. (2016). Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in veterans. Psychological Assessment, 28(11), 1379-1391.
The PCL-5 was developed by staff of the US National Center for PTSD (Weathers, Litz, Keane, Palmieri, Marx & Schnurr, 2013) and is in the public domain; this independent informational page describes the instrument and does not reproduce its scored items.