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PCL-5 PTSD Checklist

Reviewed by Albert Wong, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-question self-report measure of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder over the past month. It was developed by the VA National Center for PTSD and is used both to screen for PTSD and to track symptoms during treatment.

It takes about five to ten minutes. You answer with one very stressful experience in mind, but you don't need to describe it or write it down here. 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.

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).

Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful experience. Keeping your worst event in mind, please read each problem carefully and then select one of the answers to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month.

In the past month, how much were you bothered by:

1.Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience?
2.Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience?
3.Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)?
4.Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience?
5.Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)?
6.Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience?
7.Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)?
8.Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience?
9.Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example, having thoughts such as: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous)?
10.Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it?
11.Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame?
12.Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?
13.Feeling distant or cut off from other people?
14.Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)?
15.Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively?
16.Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm?
17.Being “superalert” or watchful or on guard?
18.Feeling jumpy or easily startled?
19.Having difficulty concentrating?
20.Trouble falling or staying asleep?

How to take the PCL-5

  1. Bring to mind the most stressful experience that is still bothering you. You do not need to write it down.
  2. For each of the 20 problems, choose how much it has bothered you in the past month.
  3. Take a break or stop at any point if the questions become too distressing.
  4. Read your total and cluster scores.
  5. Share the result with a clinician, especially if your total is in or above the 31–33 range.

What the PCL-5 measures

The 20 items follow the four DSM-5 symptom clusters for PTSD. Items 1–5 cover intrusion (cluster B), such as unwanted memories and nightmares. Items 6–7 cover avoidance (cluster C). Items 8–14 cover negative changes in thinking and mood (cluster D). Items 15–20 cover changes in arousal and reactivity (cluster E), such as irritability, being on guard, and trouble sleeping.

You answer with your worst or most distressing event in mind. This page deliberately does not ask you to name or describe it.

How the PCL-5 is scored

Each item is rated 0 (not at all), 1 (a little bit), 2 (moderately), 3 (quite a bit), or 4 (extremely). The 20 ratings are added for a total from 0 to 80. Cluster scores are the sums of the items in each cluster.

The National Center for PTSD notes that a total of 31 to 33 suggests probable PTSD across samples, and that different cutoffs may be warranted depending on the population and the purpose of testing.

For tracking treatment, a 10-point change is suggested as an indicator of response, and a score below 28 can indicate clinically significant change into a healthier range.

What your score means

A higher total means more PTSD symptoms, or more intense ones, over the past month. A score at or above the 31–33 range is a good reason to talk with a clinician who works with trauma. Effective treatments for PTSD exist.

Answering these questions can stir up difficult memories. It is OK to take a break or 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

The PCL-5 does not diagnose PTSD on its own. The gold standard for diagnosis is a structured clinical interview such as the CAPS-5. Depression, anxiety, and other conditions can raise PCL-5 scores, and cutoffs perform differently across groups.

Using the PCL-5 in your practice

Use the PCL-5 to screen after trauma exposure and to monitor symptoms during treatment. Its past-month window makes monthly re-administration a natural fit. A 10-point change is suggested as an indicator of response, and a score below 28 can indicate clinically significant change. Choose a cutoff that fits your population and purpose, and confirm a positive screen with a structured interview such as the CAPS-5 when diagnosis matters.

Document the total, cluster scores, and date, and record the index event from your interview rather than from the form. CPT 96127 is commonly used for brief standardized instruments, though coverage varies by payer. The PCL-5 is in the public domain, so it can be given freely in any format.

Common questions

What is the PCL-5 cutoff score for PTSD?

The National Center for PTSD notes that a PCL-5 total of 31 to 33 suggests probable PTSD across samples. It also advises that different cutoffs may be warranted depending on the population and the purpose, such as screening versus research. A score in this range calls for further assessment by a clinician, not an automatic diagnosis.

How is the PCL-5 scored?

Each of the 20 items is rated 0 to 4, from "not at all" to "extremely," and the ratings are added for a total from 0 to 80. Cluster scores are the sums of items 1–5 (intrusion), 6–7 (avoidance), 8–14 (negative changes in thinking and mood), and 15–20 (arousal and reactivity), following the DSM-5 PTSD clusters.

Can the PCL-5 diagnose PTSD?

No. The PCL-5 is a self-report measure used for screening and tracking symptoms. A diagnosis of PTSD requires a clinical evaluation, and the gold standard is a structured interview such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Other conditions can raise PCL-5 scores, so a clinician should interpret the result.

What is the difference between the PCL-5 and the PC-PTSD-5?

The PC-PTSD-5 is a five-question yes/no screen designed for primary care, used to decide who needs further assessment. The PCL-5 has 20 items rated 0 to 4, covers every DSM-5 PTSD symptom, and gives a total and cluster scores. A positive PC-PTSD-5 is often followed by the PCL-5 or a structured interview.

Is the PCL-5 free to use?

Yes. The PCL-5 was developed by the VA National Center for PTSD (Weathers and colleagues, 2013) and is in the public domain. Clinicians, researchers, and individuals can use it without permission or a license fee, and it may be copied, displayed, or given in any format, including online.

How often should the PCL-5 be repeated, and what change is meaningful?

The PCL-5 asks about the past month, so many clinicians repeat it monthly during treatment. A 10-point change is suggested as an indicator of response to treatment, and a score below 28 can indicate clinically significant change into a healthier range. Smaller shifts may reflect normal variation rather than real change.

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.

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