PTSD Checklist for DSM-5
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms over the past month. This educational page is for clinics. It is not a public trauma test.
Overview
What is the PCL-5?
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 is maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. It asks about past-month symptom intensity corresponding to DSM-5 PTSD clusters. It is a structured symptom account, not a diagnostic interview.
Development and clinical use
PCL versions followed DSM revisions. PCL-5 replaced earlier DSM-IV checklists and is published with official scoring and interpretation notes by the National Center for PTSD. Those notes distinguish screening, provisional symptom counts, and the need for clinical assessment.
- Source instrument
- 20 self-report items
- Reference period
- Past month
- Framework
- DSM-5 PTSD clusters
- Respondent
- Patient self-report
- Publisher
- VA NCPTSD
- Clinical role
- Symptom measurement
Administration
A focused client experience
Respondents rate past-month symptom intensity. Clinics should pair the measure with trauma-context assessment, safety review, and clinician-led differential diagnosis. This page does not collect trauma narratives.
- One question at a time with visible progress
- Large keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and answer-review steps
- Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
Response choices are shown without reproducing PCL-5 wording.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
Official materials describe totals, cluster scoring, and possible screening uses. This page does not independently verify a cutoff or production scoring rule. Use the National Center resources for the form you intend to use.
References
- Official PCL-5 informationNational Center for PTSD. PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).
- Psychometric paperBlevins CA et al. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28(6):489-498.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the PCL-5
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
What is the PCL-5 used for?
It structures past-month PTSD symptom intensity for clinician review, screening support, or monitoring. It is not a complete trauma assessment.
Does PCL-5 diagnose PTSD?
No. Official materials treat it as a checklist. Diagnosis requires a qualified clinician's assessment of exposure, symptoms, impairment, and alternatives.
Can I complete PCL-5 here?
No. This page does not collect trauma answers or return a score.
Where is the official form?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD publishes the official PCL-5 information and scoring notes.