PCL-5 (11 April 2018) National Center for PTSD
PCL-5
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.
In the past month, how much were you bothered by:
Not at
all
A little
bit
Moderately
Quite
a bit
Extremely
1. Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the
stressful experience?
0 1 2 3 4
2. Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience? 0 1 2 3 4
3. Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were
actually happening again (as if you were actually back there
reliving it)?
0 1 2 3 4
4. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the
stressful experience?
0 1 2 3 4
5. Having strong physical reactions when something reminded
you of the stressful experience (for example, heart
pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)?
0 1 2 3 4
6. Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the
stressful experience?
0 1 2 3 4
7. Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for
example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or
situations)?
0 1 2 3 4
8. Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful
experience?
0 1 2 3 4
9. 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)?
0 1 2 3 4
10. Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful
experience or what happened after it?
0 1 2 3 4
11. Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger,
guilt, or shame?
0 1 2 3 4
12. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy? 0 1 2 3 4
13. Feeling distant or cut o from other people? 0 1 2 3 4
14. Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being
unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people
close to you)?
0 1 2 3 4
15. Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively? 0 1 2 3 4
16. Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you
harm?
0 1 2 3 4
17. Being “superalert” or watchful or on guard? 0 1 2 3 4
18. Feeling jumpy or easily startled? 0 1 2 3 4
19. Having diculty concentrating? 0 1 2 3 4
20. Trouble falling or staying asleep? 0 1 2 3 4
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