PCL-5 · PTSD symptoms (DSM-5)
Could this be trauma? Free PCL-5 PTSD self-test
Trauma & PTSD Self-Test
The DSM-5 PTSD Checklist - the standard trauma self-report.
The PCL-5 is a free 20-item PTSD checklist matched to the DSM-5 criteria, scored 0-80 over the past month. A total around 31-33 or higher is the commonly used cut-off suggesting a full PTSD assessment is warranted.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
20
Questions
~5
Minutes
Free
Always
Question 1 of 20 · start here
Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of a stressful experience
Pick one and the rest of the PCL-5 continues on the next screen. Free, no sign-up.
What the PCL-5 measures
The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) measures how much you have been bothered, in the past month, by the 20 symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as defined in the DSM-5. It covers four symptom clusters: intrusion (unwanted memories, dreams, flashbacks), avoidance (steering away from reminders), negative changes in thoughts and mood, and changes in arousal and reactivity (hypervigilance, sleep disruption, irritability).
Each item is scored 0-4, giving a total between 0 and 80. Higher scores indicate more severe PTSD symptoms across the past month.
The PCL-5 is the standard PTSD self-report measure used by the US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and by clinicians and researchers worldwide. It replaced the earlier PCL for DSM-IV in 2013 when the diagnostic criteria for PTSD were revised.
Where the PCL-5 came from
The PCL-5 was developed in 2013 by Frank Weathers and colleagues at the US National Center for PTSD, following the release of DSM-5. It replaced the earlier PCL for DSM-IV to reflect the updated diagnostic criteria, which reorganised PTSD from three symptom clusters into four and added new symptoms (persistent negative emotional states, reckless behaviour). Validation studies in veteran and civilian samples have established a provisional cut-off of 31-33 as the threshold at which a probable PTSD diagnosis becomes worth investigating. It is free to use with permission from the National Center for PTSD.
How the PCL-5 is scored
The PCL-5 gives a total symptom-severity score from 0 to 80. There is no formal severity band system as with the PHQ-9 or GAD-7; instead, clinical practice uses a screening cut-off and looks at symptom clusters.
| Score | Severity | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30 | Below screening threshold | PTSD less likely on this measure. Some trauma symptoms may still be present and worth attention. |
| 31-33 | Provisional PTSD screening threshold | Standard cut-off at which a probable PTSD diagnosis is worth evaluating with a clinician. |
| 34-49 | Moderate to substantial symptoms | Formal PTSD evaluation is typically recommended; treatment usually helps. |
| 50-80 | Severe symptoms | Significant PTSD-consistent symptoms - specialist evaluation and evidence-based trauma treatment strongly recommended. |
How the PCL-5 is used in clinical practice
In VA and specialist trauma settings the PCL-5 is used as a screener at intake and repeated every few weeks to track whether trauma-focused treatments (Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR) are reducing symptoms. A reliable change is usually defined as a drop of 10-20 points.
The instrument can also be scored by cluster, giving separate totals for intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and hyperarousal. This helps clinicians tailor which symptoms to prioritise in therapy.
The PCL-5 is not a diagnostic tool on its own. A definitive PTSD diagnosis requires a structured clinical interview such as the CAPS-5.
Limitations to keep in mind
- ·The PCL-5 is a screen, not a diagnosis. Some people with PTSD score below the cut-off, and some people who score above the cut-off have other conditions such as complicated grief, dissociative disorders, or depression with trauma features.
- ·The instrument does not evaluate criterion A - whether the event you experienced meets the DSM-5 threshold for a traumatic stressor. A clinician does this separately.
- ·It measures the past month, so it can under-detect PTSD symptoms that have been managed by avoidance for a long time.
- ·The cut-off is provisional and varies slightly by population. A cut-off of 33 is common in veteran samples; some civilian studies suggest 28-31 works better.
How to read your PCL-5 score
A score is a starting point, not a verdict. Here is what each band on the PCL-5 usually means and what a reasonable next step looks like.
Below PTSD threshold
Your score falls below the common screening threshold for PTSD. That doesn't mean nothing happened - it means the pattern of symptoms doesn't match a probable diagnosis right now.
Next step: What trauma-informed therapy looks like
Probable PTSD
Your score meets the commonly used screening cutoff for probable PTSD. Trauma-focused therapy works - approaches like EMDR or trauma-focused CBT have strong evidence.
Next step: What therapy for trauma actually involves
High probable PTSD
Your score is well above the screening cutoff for probable PTSD. Please consider reaching out to a trauma-trained therapist for an assessment and care plan.
Next step: You don't have to keep surviving this alone
What happens after a high score
A high PCL-5 score does not mean something is wrong with you, and it does not confirm a diagnosis. It means the pattern you are living with is measurable, and that a trained person can help you understand it properly.
In practice, the next step is usually a conversation: someone takes your history, rules out other causes (thyroid, sleep debt, medication, grief, life circumstance), and looks at how long this has been going on and how much it is costing you. From there you decide together whether therapy, a medical review, or simply structured support is the right fit.
If you want to bring your result to someone, you can email yourself a copy at the end of the test and book an online session with Komel. Sessions are 60 minutes on Google Meet, and you can also start with a shorter 30-minute intro consultation.
Instrument and source
This page administers the Trauma & PTSD Self-Test (PCL-5) as published, without modification to item wording or scoring. It is reproduced here for education and self-screening, scored on your device, and reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist.
Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PA, Marx BP, Schnurr PP. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD, 2013.
Before you start
- · Find a quiet few minutes - answer honestly, not how you wish you felt.
- · There are no right or wrong answers. Pick what feels closest.
- · This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
- · If anything brings up something heavy, support is at the end.
Common questions about the PCL-5
What does PCL-5 stand for?
PCL-5 stands for PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. It is the standard self-report measure of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms aligned with the current DSM diagnostic criteria.
What is a positive PCL-5 score?
A total score of 31-33 or above is the conventional cut-off for a positive screen, meaning a probable PTSD diagnosis is worth evaluating further. The exact threshold varies slightly by setting.
Can the PCL-5 diagnose PTSD?
No. The PCL-5 is a screening and severity measure. A formal PTSD diagnosis requires a clinical interview - the gold standard is the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5).
How is the PCL-5 different from the older PCL?
The PCL-5 replaces the PCL for DSM-IV. The number of items went from 17 to 20, reflecting new DSM-5 symptoms, and the response scale changed from 1-5 to 0-4. Scores between versions are not directly comparable.
Does the PCL-5 cover complex or childhood trauma?
It measures PTSD symptoms as defined in DSM-5, which is trauma-focused but not specific to complex trauma or childhood-onset presentations. Complex PTSD (as recognised in ICD-11) includes additional symptoms of self-organisation that the PCL-5 does not measure.
Is the PCL-5 free to use?
The PCL-5 is free for research and clinical use with permission from the US National Center for PTSD. It is not in the public domain but permission is routinely granted.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PA, Marx BP, Schnurr PP. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD, 2013.