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PTSD Symptoms Self-report - DSM-5
Date of MHRP final approval
Date of SC final approval
About the Measure
Domain:
PTSD
Measure:
Definition:
PTSD Symptoms Self-report
A questionnaire to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
Purpose:
This measure can be used to screen for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and as a
quantitative measure of PTSD symptom severity.
Description of
Protocol:
Selection Rationale:
Specific
Instructions:
Protocol Text:
About the Protocol
The PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses DSM5-based criteria for PTSD symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale
(0 = Not at all; 5 = Extremely) that indicates how much the participant has been
bothered by an identified “worst” stressful event in the past month.
The PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is based on the PCL-4 for The Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a brief, selfadministered, widely used measure to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
symptoms that demonstrates good psychometric properties. The PTSD Checklist for
DSM-5 provides a quantitative measure of PTSD symptom severity that aligns with the
revised diagnostic criteria.
A change in the numerical rating scale combined with an increase from 17 to 20 items
means that The PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) scores are not interchangeable with scores
based on PCL-4 for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth
Edition (DSM-IV).
Summary of the PTSD Checklist (PCL) for DSM-5
The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for DSM-5 includes 20 items that capture:
 Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories and/or dreams
 Feeling and/or acting as if the experience was happening again
 Feeling upset and/or having physical reactions when reminded of the
experience
 Avoiding memories and/or external reminders of the experience
 Trouble remembering parts of the experience
 Strong negative beliefs and/or negative feelings
 Blaming yourself or others for the experience
 Loss of interest in activities and/or feeling cut off
 Trouble experiencing positive feelings
 Irritable behavior, feeling jumpy, and/or being “superalert”
 Taking risks
 Difficulty concentrating
 Trouble sleeping
Scoring:
Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all; 4 = Extremely) indicating
how much the participant has been bothered by the event in the past month. A total
symptom severity score can be obtained by totaling the scores of the 20 individual
Version 10 – 10/21/09
PTSD Symptoms Self-report - DSM-5
Date of MHRP final approval
Date of SC final approval
items. Preliminary validation work suggests a cut-off score of 38 for PTSD screening.
DSM-5 symptom cluster severity scores can be calculated according to the following:
 Cluster B – sum items 1–5
 Cluster C – sum items 6–7
 Cluster D – sum items 8–14
 Cluster E – sum items 15–20
A provisional PTSD diagnosis can be made by counting each item rated as 2
("Moderately") or higher as a symptom endorsement, then following the DSM-5
diagnostic rule, which requires at least 1 item from cluster B (questions 1–5), 1 item
from cluster C (questions 6–7), 2 items from cluster D (questions 8–14), and 2 items
from cluster E (questions 15–20).
Interpretation of the PCL-5 should be made by a clinician.
Change scores for PCL-5 have not yet been documented, but it is expected that
reliable and clinically meaningful change will be in a similar range to the scores
established for the PCL for DSM-IV (reliable > 5; clinically meaningful > 10).
Participant:
Source:
Availability:
The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for DSM-5 is available for download from the National
Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.
Adults, ages 18 and older
Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P.
(2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).
The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for DSM-5 is available for download from the National
Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.
Language of
Source:
English
Personnel and
Training Required:
Equipment Needs:
None
Protocol Type:
Requirements:
Self-administered questionnaire
None
Requirements category
Common Data
Elements:
Required (Yes/No)
Major equipment
No
Specialized training
No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen
collection
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an
unaffected individual
TBD by PhenX Staff
No
No
Version 10 – 10/21/09
PTSD Symptoms Self-report - DSM-5
Date of MHRP final approval
Date of SC final approval
General References:
Blanchard, E. B., Jones-Alexander, J., Buckley, T. C., & Forneris, C. A. (1996).
Psychometric properties of the PTSD checklist (PCL). Behavioral Research & Therapy,
34, 669–673.
Bliese, P. D., Wright, K. M., Adler, A. B., Cabrera, O., Castrol, C. A., & Hoge, C. W.
(2008). Validating the primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen and the
posttraumatic stress disorder checklist with soldiers returning from combat. Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 272–281.
Harrington, T., & Newman, E. (2007). The psychometric utility of two self-report
measures of PTSD among women substance users. Addictive Behaviors, 32, 2788–
2798.
Monson, C. M., Gradus, J. L., Young-Xu, Y., Schnurr, P. P., Price, J. L., & Schumm,
J. A. (2008). Change in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Do clinicians and
patients agree? Psychological Assessment, 20, 131–138.
Sherman, J. J., Carlson, C., Wilson, J. F., Okeson, J., & McCubbin, J. A. (2005).
Posttraumatic stress disorder among patients with orofacial pain. Journal of Orofacial
Pain, 19, 309–317.
Walker, E. A., Newman, E., Dobie, D. J., Ciechanowski, P., & Katon, W. (2002).
Validation of the PTSD checklist in an HMO sample of women. General Hospital
Psychiatry, 24, 375–380.
Additional Information About the Measure
Essential Data:
Related PhenX
Measures:
Derived Variables:
Current Age, Gender
Life Events, Exposure to Violence, Childhood Maltreatment, Perceived Stress,
PTSD Symptoms, Severity and Diagnosis
None
Keywords/Related
Concepts:
Trauma, Potentially traumatic event, Stress, Stressor, Posttraumatic stress disorder,
PTSD,
Version 10 – 10/21/09