Post-traumatic stress test (PCL-5)
Think of the most difficult experience you have been through. In the past month, how much were you bothered by:
Repeated, disturbing and unwanted memories of the experience
Repeated, disturbing dreams of the experience
Suddenly feeling or acting as if the experience were happening again
Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the experience
Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the experience, such as a racing heart, trouble breathing or sweating
Avoiding memories, thoughts or feelings related to the experience
Avoiding people, places, conversations, activities or objects that remind you of the experience
Trouble remembering important parts of the experience
Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people or the world
Blaming yourself or someone else for the experience or what happened after it
Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Feeling distant or cut off from other people
Trouble experiencing positive feelings
Irritable behaviour, angry outbursts or acting aggressively
Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm
Being superalert, watchful or on guard
Feeling jumpy or easily startled
Having difficulty concentrating
Trouble falling or staying asleep
These questionnaires are for screening, not for diagnosis. A high score does not mean you have an illness, and a low score does not rule out needing help. Diagnosis is made by a professional, in a consultation.
The test is scored in your browser. Nothing is sent to us or stored, and you do not need to give a name or an email to see the result.
The PCL-5 is the post-traumatic stress symptom checklist used with the DSM-5 criteria. It was developed by the National Center for PTSD and is free to use.