Answer 20 questions drawn from the PCL-5 — the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 used with veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors — to receive a personalized total score, a screening-band interpretation, and next steps.
This screener is used by veterans, first responders, and anyone who has lived through a traumatic or highly stressful event. Answer each question based on how you have felt over the past month. There are no right or wrong answers — honesty gives you the most useful results.
Before you begin: Bring to mind one specific stressful or traumatic experience — for example, a combat event, a serious accident, an assault, a line-of-duty incident, or another event that felt life-threatening or deeply distressing. Keep that same experience in mind as you answer every question below.
Answer Scale
Not a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after living through — or witnessing — a traumatic event such as combat, a serious accident, an assault, or a line-of-duty emergency. It is not a sign of weakness. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, most people who experience a trauma do not go on to develop PTSD, but a meaningful share do, and the condition is highly treatable.
DSM-5 groups PTSD symptoms into four clusters: intrusion (unwanted memories, nightmares, flashbacks), avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood (persistent fear, guilt, shame, feeling cut off from others), and changes in arousal and reactivity (irritability, hypervigilance, being easily startled, and trouble sleeping). When these symptoms persist for more than a month and interfere with daily life, a professional evaluation is warranted.
Veterans and first responders carry an added burden: repeated exposure to danger, loss, and high-stakes decisions. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that trauma-focused therapies — including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and EMDR — are among the most effective treatments available, and that recovery is very much possible with the right support.
The PCL-5 mirrors the DSM-5 structure, with 20 items distributed across four symptom clusters. Recognizing which clusters affect you most can help you and a clinician understand your experience.
| Cluster | PCL-5 Items | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| B — Intrusion | Items 1–5 | Unwanted memories, disturbing dreams, flashbacks, and strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event. |
| C — Avoidance | Items 6–7 | Actively avoiding memories, thoughts, and feelings — and the external people, places, and situations that trigger them. |
| D — Negative Changes in Thoughts & Mood | Items 8–14 | Persistent negative beliefs, blame, fear, guilt, or shame; loss of interest; feeling distant from others; and trouble feeling positive emotions. |
| E — Arousal & Reactivity | Items 15–20 | Irritability or aggression, risky behavior, hypervigilance, being easily startled, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. |
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD; DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association).
This screener is based on the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), a 20-item self-report measure developed by the National Center for PTSD (Weathers et al., 2013). It asks how much you have been bothered by each of the 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms over the past month, while keeping one specific stressful or traumatic experience in mind. Each item is rated from 0 to 4:
Your responses are summed into a total score of 0 to 80. Research from the National Center for PTSD suggests a provisional PTSD screening threshold of roughly 31–33 — a score at or above that range suggests a professional PTSD evaluation is warranted. This screener helps identify whether trauma symptoms may benefit from the structured support of an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
Medical Disclaimer: This screening is a tool only and is not a clinical diagnosis. Results should not replace the evaluation of a licensed mental health or medical professional. If you are a veteran or service member in crisis, call 988 and press 1, or text 838255 (Veterans Crisis Line). Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911.
| Score Range | Screening Band | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 20 | Few PTSD Symptoms | Few trauma symptoms reported. Monitor over time; lean on healthy supports and reach out if symptoms emerge. |
| 21 – 32 | Some PTSD Symptoms | Meaningful symptoms present. Consider a trauma-informed evaluation and individual therapy. |
| 33 – 49 | Provisional PTSD | At or above the ~31–33 screening threshold. A professional PTSD evaluation is recommended. |
| 50 – 80 | Significant PTSD Symptoms | High symptom burden. A professional evaluation is warranted now; structured IOP support may be appropriate. |
Bands adapted for screening from the PCL-5 (Weathers FW, Litz BT, Keane TM, Palmieri PA, Marx BP, Schnurr PP, 2013). The National Center for PTSD suggests a provisional PTSD cutoff of roughly 31–33; a clinician should confirm any diagnosis.
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Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 then press 1, or text 838255. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988.