PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Test

Understand post-traumatic stress symptoms in about 4 minutes. This 20-item self-check supports quick screening, tracks change over time, and helps guide next steps.

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Questions: 204 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

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1,679 completions

1,375 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/4

Hyperarousal (E) (H)

Measures excessive reactivity symptoms such as irritability, angry outbursts, concentration difficulties, and sleep problems.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.65: Low | 1.66 – 2.47: Moderate | 2.48 – 4: High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate level of reactivity-related symptoms, suggesting noticeable but not severe irritability, concentration, or sleep difficulties.

example score

2/4

Negative Alterations in Cognitions and Mood (D) (NAiCaM)

Measures persistent negative thoughts, emotions, and beliefs related to the traumatic event.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4: High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme presence of negative trauma-related thoughts and emotions.

example score

2/4

Avoidance Symptoms (C) (AS)

Measures how strongly a person avoids thoughts, feelings, or situations that remind them of the traumatic event.

Low avoidance

Moderate avoidance

High avoidance

0 – 1: Low avoidance | 2 – 3: Moderate avoidance | 4: High avoidance

A score of 2 suggests a moderate tendency to avoid trauma-related reminders at times.

example score

3/4

Intrusion Symptoms (B) (IS)

Measures the severity of intrusive trauma-related memories, dreams, or flashbacks.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting notable intrusion symptoms such as recurring unwanted memories or distressing dreams that occur fairly often.

example score

43/80

PTSD Symptom Severity (PSS)

Measures the overall severity of self-reported PTSD symptoms over the past month on the PCL-5 total score.

Lower symptom severity

Elevated symptoms

High symptom severity

0 – 27: Lower symptom severity | 28 – 32: Elevated symptoms | 33 – 80: High symptom severity

A score of 43 falls in the High symptom severity range, indicating substantial self-reported PTSD symptoms relative to common screening cutoffs.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Recent trauma survivors

41%OF USERS

People who went through an accident, assault, disaster, or sudden loss use it to quickly gauge how strongly PTSD-like symptoms are showing up.

Clients starting therapy

33%OF USERS

People beginning counseling or psychiatric care take it to summarize symptoms clearly and track changes over time.

High-risk professionals

26%OF USERS

First responders, military personnel, and healthcare workers use it to screen themselves after distressing events and decide whether to seek further evaluation.

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.

excessive reactivity (E) (er()

Average

1.8

Normal range

1.2 — 2.3

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.

negative thoughts and emotions (D) (ntae()

Average

2.6

Normal range

2 — 3.1

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.

avoidance symptoms (C) (as()

Average

1.5

Normal range

0.8 — 2.2

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.

intrusion symptoms (B) (is()

Average

Normal range

2.4 — 3.5

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.

PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS)

Average

48.3

Normal range

34.2 — 62.4

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the severity of symptoms commonly associated with post-traumatic stress following a traumatic event. Items reflect current diagnostic criteria and cover key symptom clusters.

Who is it intended for?

It is intended for adults who have experienced a traumatic event and need a brief symptom check. It can be used for screening, research, and monitoring change over time.

How long does it take and what is included?

It typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. It includes 20 items covering intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood or thinking, and heightened arousal or reactivity.

How should responses be rated?

Each item is rated based on how much the symptom has bothered the respondent during the past month. Responses should reflect frequency or intensity as described by the item options.

How should results be interpreted?

Scores indicate symptom severity and can support decisions about follow-up assessment. This is not a diagnostic test and should be interpreted alongside clinical evaluation, especially in non-English or cross-cultural contexts.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Test - Symptoms and Signs

ptsd

Following exposure to a potentially traumatic event, a brief self-report measure can help characterize current symptom burden and inform next clinical steps. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is designed to assess posttraumatic stress symptoms in relation to DSM-5 criteria.

Developed by Weathers, F., it consists of 20 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. Respondents rate the severity of common symptom domains (e.g., intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and arousal/reactivity) over a specified time frame, supporting symptom monitoring over time.

The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is commonly used as a screening and symptom-tracking tool in clinical and research settings and may help determine whether a more comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is indicated. Results should be interpreted in the context of the individual’s history, language and cultural factors, and other clinical information.

Author: Weathers, F.

Literature: Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD. 2013.

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