Sunflower Mental Health and Wellbeing

PCL-5 PTSD Screening 


The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. The PCL-5 has a variety of purposes, including:

  • Monitoring symptom change during and after treatment
  • Screening individuals for PTSD
  • Making a provisional PTSD diagnosis
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Instructions: Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful experience. Please read each problem carefully and then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month.
Q1:  Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience? *
Required
Q2:  Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience? *
Required
Q3:  Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)? *
Required
Q4:  Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience? *
Required
Q5:  Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)? *
Required
Q6:  Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience? *
Required
Q7:  Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)? *
Required
Q8:  Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience? *
Required
Q9: Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example, having thoughts such as: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous)? *
Required
Q10: Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it? *
Required
Q11: Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame? *
Required
Q12: Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy? *
Required
Q13: Feeling distant or cut off from other people? *
Required
Q14: Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)? *
Required
Q15: Irritable behaviour, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively? *
Required
Q16: Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm? *
Required
Q17: Being “super alert” or watchful or on guard? *
Required
Q18: Feeling jumpy or easily startled? *
Required
Q19: Having difficulty concentrating? *
Required
Q20: Trouble falling or staying asleep? *
Required
Score Interpretation 

Interpretation of the PCL-5 should be made by a clinician. The PCL-5 can be scored in different ways:

  • A total symptom severity score (range - 0-80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items.
  • DSM-5 symptom cluster severity scores can be obtained by summing the scores for the items within a given cluster, i.e., cluster B (items 1-5), cluster C (items 6-7), cluster D (items 8-14), and cluster E (items 15-20).
  • A provisional PTSD diagnosis can be made by treating each item rated as 2 = "Moderately" or higher as a symptom endorsed, then following the DSM-5 diagnostic rule which requires at least: 1 B item (questions 1-5), 1 C item (questions 6-7), 2 D items (questions 8-14), 2 E items (questions 15-20).
  • Initial research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD across samples. However, additional research is needed. Further, because the population and the purpose of the screening may warrant different cutoff scores, users are encouraged to consider both of these factors when choosing a cutoff score.
Kind Reminder:

Please go to your GP for the referral to access the further assessment and treatment if your score is 31 and above. 

If you want to book an appointment with us, please email or call us. We will come back to you soon.
Email: admin@sunflowermentalhealth.com.au
Ph： 0426851396
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