PCL-5

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

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Content note: The PCL-5 asks about symptoms in response to a specific stressful or traumatic experience. Identify that experience before completing the items, and consider using it in a supported setting — reviewing trauma symptoms can be distressing. This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.

Your privacy: Screening results are stored only on this device and are never sent to our servers. You can share results with your provider using a secure link.

In the past month, how much were you bothered by these problems — in response to a specific stressful experience?

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

Score

0/20 answered

0/ 80

Answer every item to see the severity interpretation.

About this instrument

A 20-item self-report measure of the DSM-5 symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Each item is rated 0–4 for how much it bothered the person in the past month, in response to an identified stressful experience. The PCL-5 supports both a total symptom-severity score and a provisional diagnosis based on the DSM-5 symptom clusters (B, C, D, and E). It is a screening and monitoring tool, not a substitute for a structured diagnostic interview such as the CAPS-5.

Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PT, Marx BP, Schnurr PP. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD, 2013. A provisional PTSD diagnosis requires ≥1 item in cluster B and ≥1 in cluster C, plus ≥2 in cluster D and ≥2 in cluster E, each rated moderately (2) or higher. Public instrument developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Meridian Mental Health

Clinical screening form

For clinical use — retain with the record

PCL-5 — PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

In the past month, how much were you bothered by these problems — in response to a specific stressful experience?

Client name

Date of birth

Date administered

Clinician

Meridian does not collect client-identifying information on screen — complete this section by hand.

#	Item	Not at all	A little bit	Moderately	Quite a bit	Extremely
1	Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
2	Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
3	Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
4	Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
5	Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
6	Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
7	Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
8	Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
9	Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous)	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
10	Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
11	Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
12	Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
13	Feeling distant or cut off from other people	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
14	Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
15	Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
16	Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
17	Being “superalert” or watchful or on guard	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
18	Feeling jumpy or easily startled	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
19	Having difficulty concentrating	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
20	Trouble falling or staying asleep	(0)	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)

Functional impact

If you endorsed any problems, how much have they interfered with your work, relationships, or day-to-day functioning in the past month?

Not difficult at allSomewhat difficultVery difficultExtremely difficult

Total score / 80

Severity

(0/20 answered on screen — score by hand)

DSM-5 symptom clusters (rated ≥ 2 counts as endorsed)

Cluster	Criterion	Items	Met?
B	Intrusion	1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (need 1)	—
C	Avoidance	6, 7 (need 1)	—
D	Negative alterations in cognitions and mood	8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (need 2)	—
E	Alterations in arousal and reactivity	15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 (need 2)	—

Provisional PTSD: score all items to evaluate.

Severity key
Score	Severity	Guidance
0–30	Below the PTSD cutoff	The total score is below the 31–33 range used as a provisional cutoff for probable PTSD. PTSD is less likely by the total-score rule, though subthreshold symptoms may still warrant follow-up. Check the DSM-5 symptom clusters below — the cluster rule and the total-score cutoff can occasionally disagree.
31–49	At or above the PTSD cutoff	A total of 31–33 or higher is the best-established estimate of a positive PTSD screen. Further assessment with a structured interview (e.g. CAPS-5) is recommended. Review the provisional-diagnosis panel below for the DSM-5 cluster picture.
50–80	High symptom burden	The score reflects a high level of PTSD symptom burden. Prompt clinical assessment and trauma-informed care are strongly indicated. (This upper band marks symptom severity for triage; the validated diagnostic threshold remains the 31–33 cutoff.)

This form is a scoring aid, not a diagnosis. A score alone never establishes or rules out a clinical diagnosis — interpret alongside clinical judgment. Printed Aug 20, 2026 from Meridian Mental Health.

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