The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report measure developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and published by Weathers and colleagues in 2013. Each item corresponds directly to one of the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Although the instrument is called a checklist, it is not a simple yes or no tool. The VA uses the PCL-5 for screening, monitoring symptom change over time, and supporting a provisional diagnosis alongside a clinical assessment. It is in the public domain and free to use.
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Disclaimer
This test is based on the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool and does not constitute medical advice. PTSD is diagnosed through a comprehensive clinical assessment, not through a questionnaire. If you are concerned about your wellbeing, please consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.
The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report measure developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and published by Weathers, Litz, Keane, Palmieri, Marx, and Schnurr in 2013. Each item corresponds to one of the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is used worldwide for screening, monitoring symptom change over time, and supporting provisional diagnosis. It is in the public domain and free to use.
The VA officially describes the PCL-5 as a self-report measure. The word "checklist" is in the instrument name for historical reasons, going back to earlier PCL-M, PCL-C, and PCL-S versions used with Vietnam veterans, but the PCL-5 itself is a dimensional severity scale rather than a simple symptom checklist. It is commonly used as a screening tool when looking for probable PTSD and as a severity measure when tracking treatment progress. It is not a diagnostic test on its own.
Each of the 20 items is rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), giving a total score between 0 and 80. The VA National Center for PTSD suggests a cutoff of 31 to 33 as indicative of probable PTSD:
A provisional DSM-5 diagnosis can also be made by treating each item rated 2 (moderately) or higher as an endorsed symptom, then checking the DSM-5 rule: at least 1 Cluster B item (1 to 5), 1 Cluster C item (6 to 7), 2 Cluster D items (8 to 14), and 2 Cluster E items (15 to 20).
The PCL-5 has strong psychometric properties across veterans, active duty military, college students, and trauma-exposed civilians. Validation studies report excellent internal consistency (typically alpha above 0.94) and good test-retest reliability. Sensitivity and specificity depend on the population and the cutoff used; at a cutoff of 31 to 33, sensitivity and specificity are typically above 0.80 against structured clinical interviews such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Like all self-report measures, accuracy depends on honest responding and is reduced in settings where there is incentive to over- or under-report.
DSM-5 organises PTSD symptoms into four clusters, which this tool scores separately for you:
A DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis also requires exposure to a qualifying traumatic event (Criterion A) and symptoms lasting more than a month and causing clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning.
The PCL-5 was designed to assess DSM-5 PTSD, not complex PTSD (C-PTSD) as defined in the ICD-11. Many symptoms of C-PTSD overlap with PTSD and would be captured here, but additional features of C-PTSD, such as persistent problems with emotion regulation, negative self-concept, and interpersonal difficulties, are not covered by this instrument. Tools such as the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) are designed specifically for ICD-11 C-PTSD.
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If your score falls at or above 31 to 33, or if any individual symptoms are especially distressing, consider speaking with a GP, therapist, or specialist trauma service. PTSD is highly treatable. Evidence-based treatments include trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Confidential helplines such as the Samaritans (UK, 116 123), the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (US), and the Veterans Crisis Line (US, dial 988 then press 1) can help you find local support.
Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PA, Marx BP, Schnurr PP. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD; 2013. ptsd.va.gov
Developed by staff at the VA National Center for PTSD. As a work of the U.S. federal government it is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission.
Blevins CA, Weathers FW, Davis MT, Witte TK, Domino JL. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): development and initial psychometric evaluation. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28(6):489-498. doi:10.1002/jts.22059
Validation study for the PCL-5.