PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

[Study Name/ID pre-filled] Site Name:

Subject ID:

Instructions: Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful
experience. Please read each problem carefully and then mark one of the numbers 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?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

2. Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

3. Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were
actually back there reliving it)?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

4. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

5. Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for
example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

6. Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

7. Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations,
activities, objects, or situations)?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

8. Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

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 PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
[Study Name/ID pre-filled] Site Name:

Subject ID:

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)?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

10. Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

11. Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

12. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

13. Feeling distant or cut off from other people?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

14. Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving
feelings for people close to you)?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

15. Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

16. Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

17. Being "superalert" or watchful or on guard?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

18. Feeling jumpy or easily startled?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

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 PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
[Study Name/ID pre-filled] Site Name:

Subject ID:

19. Having difficulty concentrating?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

20. Trouble falling or staying asleep?

_0. Not at all _1. A little bit _2. Moderately _3. Quite a bit _4. Extremely

Notes: Scoring

Interpretation of the PCL-5 should be made by a clinician. The PCL-5 can be scored in different ways:

 A total symptom severity score (range - 0-80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each
of the 20 items.

 DSM-5 symptom cluster severity scores can be obtained by summing the scores for the items
within a given cluster, i.e., cluster B (items 1-5), cluster C (items 6-7), cluster D (items 8-14), and
cluster E (items 15-20).

 A provisional PTSD diagnosis can be made by treating each item rated as 2 = "Moderately" or
higher as a symptom endorsed, then following the DSM-5 diagnostic rule which requires at
least: 1 B item (questions 1-5), 1 C item (questions 6-7), 2 D items (questions 8-14), 2 E items
(questions 15-20).

 Initial research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD
across samples. However, additional research is needed. Further, because the population and
the purpose of the screening may warrant different cutoff scores, users are encouraged to
consider both of these factors when choosing a cutoff score.

Reference:

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) – Standard [Measurement instrument]. Available from
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/

Scoring instructions from the website

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