PTSD Test
How the Scales are Structured
Who Usually Takes This Test?
See How You Compare
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Example Questions From the Test
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- Quite a bit
- Extremely
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- Often
- Extremely
- Never
- Rarely
- Moderately
- Often
- Very often
This self-report measure is used to assess the presence and severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms following exposure to a potentially traumatic event. Developed by Frank Weathers and colleagues at the National Center for PTSD, the PTSD Test uses the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) — the most widely used validated PTSD screening instrument in clinical and research settings worldwide. It consists of 20 items across four DSM-5 symptom clusters and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete, yielding a total severity score and subscale scores that support both initial screening and repeated symptom monitoring.
Why Take a PTSD Test
Post-traumatic stress disorder is frequently unrecognized — both by those experiencing it and by the clinicians they consult. Many people attribute persistent symptoms to stress, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, or mood changes without connecting them to a traumatic event that may have occurred months or even years earlier. Others recognize that something is wrong but are uncertain whether what they are experiencing is significant enough to warrant professional attention.
The PCL-5 cuts through this uncertainty. A structured test for PTSD based on DSM-5 criteria gives both the individual and their clinician a clear, symptom-by-symptom picture of current trauma-related distress — across intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and hyperarousal. This specificity matters: it not only clarifies whether PTSD symptoms are present, but also which clusters are most severe, enabling more targeted treatment planning. For people who have experienced accidents, assaults, relationship trauma, military combat, or other distressing events and are noticing lingering effects, this PTSD assessment provides a concrete starting point for understanding what they are going through.
What the Assessment Measures
The PCL-5 rates symptom severity across the four DSM-5 PTSD clusters over the past month:
- Intrusion symptoms — recurring unwanted memories, distressing dreams, flashbacks, and intense psychological or physiological reactions to trauma reminders
- Avoidance — deliberate efforts to avoid trauma-related thoughts, feelings, people, places, or situations that serve as reminders of the event
- Negative alterations in cognitions and mood — persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, distorted blame, emotional numbing, estrangement from others, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Hyperarousal and reactivity — irritability, angry outbursts, reckless behavior, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, concentration difficulties, and sleep disturbance
Each item is rated 0–4 on a severity scale, yielding a total score from 0 to 80. A score of 33 or above is the established clinical threshold indicating probable PTSD that warrants further evaluation. Subscale scores identify which symptom clusters are most prominent, supporting more targeted clinical formulation.
Who This Assessment Is For
This PTSD Test is appropriate for any adult who has experienced a traumatic event — including accidents, assault, sudden loss, relationship trauma, or occupational exposure — and has since noticed persistent changes in mood, thinking, sleep, or daily functioning. It is also widely used by people already in therapy to track symptom progress over time, and by first responders, military personnel, and healthcare workers seeking a structured self-screen after distressing incidents. Clinicians use the PCL-5 as a standard intake, monitoring, and treatment evaluation measure across trauma-focused settings.
Clinical Validity and Use in Practice
The PCL-5 has been validated in large-scale studies across diverse clinical and non-clinical populations and is endorsed by the National Center for PTSD and VA healthcare system. It demonstrates strong psychometric properties including high sensitivity and specificity at the established cutoff of 33. Results from this PTSD assessment should always be interpreted alongside a comprehensive clinical evaluation — the PCL-5 is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnostic instrument. Where scores are elevated, referral to a clinician experienced in trauma-focused treatment such as EMDR or CPT is strongly recommended.