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Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R)

Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) Test

Understand how trauma may still be affecting you in about 5 minutes. This 22 item check-in flags key PTSD symptoms and helps track change over time.

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Questions: 225 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

13,980 views

1,332 completions

1,100 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

12/35

Hyperarousal (H)

Measures trauma-related hyperarousal symptoms such as irritability, heightened alertness, and concentration difficulties.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 11: Low | 12 – 23: Moderate | 24 – 35: High

A score of 12 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of post-traumatic irritability and heightened alertness.

example score

31/40

Avoidance (A)

Measures how strongly a person avoids trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and situations.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 13: Low | 14 – 26: Moderate | 27 – 40: High

A score of 31 falls in the High range, suggesting frequent avoidance of reminders and internal experiences linked to the traumatic event.

example score

5/35

Intrusion (I)

Measures how often intrusive thoughts, images, dreams, or other involuntary reminders of the traumatic event occur.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 11: Low | 12 – 23: Moderate | 24 – 35: High

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting intrusive re-experiencing reminders have been reported infrequently.

example score

68/110

Impact of Event Scale (IoES)

Measures the overall severity of post-traumatic stress reactions and the psychological impact of a traumatic event.

Low impact

Moderate impact

High impact

0 – 36: Low impact | 37 – 73: Moderate impact | 74 – 110: High impact

A score of 68 falls in the Moderate impact range, suggesting a notable level of post-traumatic stress symptoms that may be affecting daily functioning.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Recent trauma survivors

41%OF USERS

People who have been through an accident, assault, disaster, or sudden loss and want to understand whether their reactions match common PTSD symptoms.

People with lingering distress

34%OF USERS

Those who feel stuck with intrusive memories, avoidance, sleep problems, or hypervigilance weeks or months after an upsetting event and want a quick self-check.

Clients tracking therapy progress

25%OF USERS

People already in counseling or treatment who use the questionnaire to monitor how their symptoms change over time and share results with a clinician.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Excitability (E)

Average

14.7

Normal range

8.4 — 21

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Avoidance (A)

Average

28.6

Normal range

23 — 34.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Invasion (I)

Average

16.4

Normal range

9.8 — 22.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Traumatic Event Impact Assessment Scale (TEIAS)

Average

46.2

Normal range

29.6 — 62.8

min.

max.

110

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms linked to a specific stressful event. It focuses on intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for individuals who have experienced a traumatic or highly stressful event. It is used for screening and for monitoring change over time.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It takes about 5 minutes to complete. It includes 22 items.

What time period should be used when answering?

Items are rated based on distress during the past 7 days. Responses should reflect the selected event.

Does a score confirm a diagnosis?

No, results do not establish a diagnosis by themselves. Scores indicate symptom burden and should be interpreted with clinical information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) Test - Symptoms and Signs

psychopathology ptsd

This self-report measure is used to assess subjective distress following exposure to a specific traumatic event. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) helps characterize the frequency of commonly reported posttraumatic stress symptoms over a recent time frame and can inform initial clinical formulation.

Developed by Mardi J. Horowitz, Nancy Wilner, and William Alvarez, it consists of 22 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. It is often used in clinical and research settings to support symptom monitoring over time and to guide discussion of trauma-related experiences; results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical interview, history, and other relevant measures.

The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is not a stand-alone diagnostic instrument and does not replace a comprehensive evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder or related conditions.

Author: Mardi J. Horowitz, Nancy Wilner, William Alvarez

Literature: Weiss, D. S., & Marmar, C. R. The impact of event scale—revised. In J. P. Wilson & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD. Guilford Press. 1997.

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