This short checklist is a screen for posttraumatic stress. It starts with a trauma question, then five yes or no items about the last month. This is for education only, not a diagnosis. Your answers stay on your device unless you share a results link.
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Important
Emergency: If this is an emergency, call your local emergency services now.
Numbers can change. Please verify online before calling.
Test is for education and entertainment only. It is not advice and it has no guarantee of accuracy or validity.
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PC-PTSD-5 begins with a trauma history question. If you answer no, the screen is complete with a score of 0. If you answer yes, you then answer five yes or no items about the past month. The total is the number of yes answers, from 0 to 5. Many programs consider a score of 3 or more a positive screen, which aims to catch most people who may have PTSD. Some settings use 4 to balance false positives and false negatives. A positive screen needs a clinical follow up, often with a structured interview such as CAPS-5 or a longer checklist like the PCL-5.
References and credits
National Center for PTSD page for PC-PTSD-5 with scoring and cut point notes. The measure is in the public domain and not copyrighted. VA page.
Official PC-PTSD-5 instrument PDF with the exact wording and scoring guidance. Instrument PDF.
Prins et al., 2016. Development and evaluation within a VA primary care sample. Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Bovin et al., 2021. Diagnostic accuracy and acceptability. JAMA Network Open.
The PC-PTSD-5 was developed by staff at VA’s National Center for PTSD. The VA states it is in the public domain and not copyrighted. Please cite the sources above when you use it.
v1.0. Single file. Autosave. Shareable link. Mobile first.
FAQs
What does PC-PTSD-5 measure
It screens for probable posttraumatic stress in the last month. It is not a diagnosis.
How is it scored
If you have a trauma history, the score is the number of yes answers to the five items. That is 0 to 5. If you answer no to the trauma question, the score is 0.
What is a positive screen
Many programs use 3 or more as a positive screen so fewer people are missed. Some use 4 to balance false positives and false negatives. Any positive screen should be followed by a clinical assessment.
Is my data stored on a server
No. Your answers stay in your browser using localStorage. The share link encodes results in the URL after the #. Servers do not receive that part.
What should I do next
Try the tools matched to your result. If you have a positive screen, consider talking with a clinician soon. If you feel unsafe, call local emergency services.
Emergency help
If this is an emergency, call your local emergency services now.
Numbers can change. Please verify online before calling.
India: 112 all emergencies. Tele-MANAS 14416 mental health
USA: 911. Mental health 988
UK: 999 emergency. 111 NHS non emergency
Germany: 112 fire or medical. 110 police
Russia: 112 all emergencies
China mainland: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire, 122 traffic
