Free assessment
PC-PTSD-5 PTSD Screen
The PC-PTSD-5 (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5) is a short screen for posttraumatic stress disorder. It asks whether you have been through a traumatic event and, if so, five yes-or-no questions about how it has affected you in the past month.
It takes about a minute and was designed for primary care, where it helps decide who should get a fuller assessment. You do not need to describe what happened. Your answers are scored in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Before you start: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Whatever number you get, it belongs in a conversation with a professional who knows you.
Completely private: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored anywhere.
Clear everything you’ve answered?
These questions ask about a hard experience. You don’t need to describe it anywhere, and it’s fine to stop at any point. If this stirs up more than you expected, call or text 988 (Veterans: press 1).
- a serious accident or fire
- a physical or sexual assault or abuse
- an earthquake or flood
- a war
- seeing someone be killed or seriously injured
- having a loved one die through homicide or suicide.
In the past month, have you…
Your score
One of your answers matters on its own, whatever the total: the question about thoughts of death or of hurting yourself. The support lines above are for you, and it’s worth mentioning that answer specifically to whoever you share this with.
A score is a snapshot, not a verdict on you. Whatever the number, the most useful next step is the same: share it with a professional who can help you make sense of it.
Copying didn’t work in this browser. Select the text below and copy it yourself.
How to take the PC-PTSD-5
- Answer the first question about whether you have experienced a traumatic event. If not, the screen is complete.
- If yes, answer the five yes/no questions about the past month.
- Stop at any point if the questions become too distressing.
- Read your score from 0 to 5 and whether it meets the cut-point.
- If the screen is positive, talk with a clinician about a fuller assessment.
What the PC-PTSD-5 measures
The screen opens with a question about exposure to a traumatic event, such as a serious accident or fire, a physical or sexual assault, an earthquake or flood, war, seeing someone be killed or seriously injured, or having a loved one die through homicide or suicide. If the answer is no, the screen ends with a score of 0.
If the answer is yes, five questions ask about the past month: nightmares or unwanted thoughts about the event, trying hard to avoid thinking about it or avoiding reminders, being constantly on guard or easily startled, feeling numb or detached, and feeling guilty or unable to stop blaming yourself or others.
How the PC-PTSD-5 is scored
The score is the number of "yes" answers to the five symptom questions, from 0 to 5.
The National Center for PTSD (2022 version) reports that a cut-point of 4 best balanced false negatives and false positives overall and for men. For women, a cut-point of 4 produced many false negatives, so a lower cut-point may be considered where resources allow for follow-up.
What your score means
A positive screen means further assessment is recommended, preferably with a structured interview such as the CAPS-5 or with the PCL-5. It does not mean you have PTSD. A score below the cut-point does not rule it out either, especially for women.
Thinking about a traumatic event can stir up difficult memories. It is OK to stop. If you are in distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans can press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
Limits of a screening test
Five yes/no questions trade detail for speed. The PC-PTSD-5 identifies who may need a closer look; it does not measure severity and is not suited to tracking change during treatment. A qualified clinician is needed for diagnosis.
Using the PC-PTSD-5 in your practice
The PC-PTSD-5 suits routine screening at intake or in primary care and integrated care settings. Consider the lower cut-point for women where follow-up capacity allows, given the false negatives at 4. Follow a positive screen with the PCL-5 or a structured interview such as the CAPS-5, and use the PCL-5 rather than the PC-PTSD-5 to track severity over time.
Document the exposure response, the score, the cut-point you applied, and the follow-up plan. CPT 96127 is commonly used for brief standardized screening instruments, though coverage varies by payer.
Common questions
What is the PC-PTSD-5 cutoff score?
The National Center for PTSD (2022 version) reports that a cut-point of 4 out of 5 best balanced false negatives and false positives overall and for men. For women, a cut-point of 4 missed many true cases, so a lower cut-point may be considered where resources allow for follow-up. A positive screen calls for further assessment.
How is the PC-PTSD-5 scored?
The screen starts with a trauma-exposure question. If the answer is no, the score is 0 and the screen ends. If yes, the score is the number of "yes" answers to the five symptom questions about the past month, for a total from 0 to 5.
Does a positive PC-PTSD-5 mean I have PTSD?
No. The PC-PTSD-5 is a brief screen that flags who may benefit from a closer look. A positive result should be followed by further assessment, preferably a structured interview such as the CAPS-5 or the PCL-5 questionnaire. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose PTSD.
What is the difference between the PC-PTSD-5 and the PCL-5?
The PC-PTSD-5 is five yes/no questions meant for quick screening in primary care. The PCL-5 is a 20-item questionnaire rated 0 to 4 that covers every DSM-5 PTSD symptom and gives a severity total. The PC-PTSD-5 decides who needs more assessment; the PCL-5 is often that next step and is used to track treatment.
Is the PC-PTSD-5 free to use?
Yes. The PC-PTSD-5 was developed by Prins and colleagues with the VA National Center for PTSD and is in the public domain. It can be used in clinical care, research, and self-screening without permission or a license fee, and it may be reproduced in paper, electronic, or online form.
How often should the PC-PTSD-5 be given?
The PC-PTSD-5 is a screening tool, so it is usually given at intake, at routine visits such as an annual check, or after a new traumatic event. Its questions cover the past month. It is not designed to track symptom change during treatment; the PCL-5 is better suited to that.
Often given alongside
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. If your score worries you, or if you didn't need a questionnaire to tell you something is wrong, please talk to a professional. In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), around the clock.
Developed by the VA National Center for PTSD; in the public domain and not copyrighted.
Are you a therapist? Practice Harbor is an EHR built by a psychologist: notes, scheduling, telehealth, and billing in one place.
Start free — no credit cardLast updated