PTSD Screening
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) · 20 questions · 5 minutes
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event — such as a serious accident, assault, combat, natural disaster, or other life-threatening situation. Symptoms may include intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in mood or thinking, and heightened reactivity like being easily startled or having difficulty sleeping. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and symptoms can appear weeks, months, or even years after the event. PTSD is treatable, and many people experience significant improvement with appropriate care. This screening uses the PCL-5, a tool developed by the National Center for PTSD to assess symptoms over the past month. It is not a diagnosis — only a qualified provider can make that determination — but it can help you understand whether your experiences warrant further evaluation.
The PCL-5 is a validated screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It takes about 5 minutes to complete. After answering all 20 questions about experiences in the past month, you'll see your score immediately with an explanation of what it means.
Important
This is a validated screening tool, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified provider can make a clinical diagnosis. Your responses are not stored or shared — this screening is completely private.