In the past month, how much were you bothered by…
Think of the stressful experience that affects you most. Wording is from the PCL-5, reproduced as published by the National Center for PTSD.1Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience?
2Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience?
3Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)?
4Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience?
5Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)?
6Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience?
7Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)?
8Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience?
9Having 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)?
10Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it?
11Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame?
12Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?
13Feeling distant or cut off from other people?
14Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)?
15Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively?
16Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm?
17Being "superalert" or watchful or on guard?
18Feeling jumpy or easily startled?
19Having difficulty concentrating?
20Trouble falling or staying asleep?
What PTSD is, in short
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a frightening, threatening or distressing event. Its four groups of symptoms are reliving the event, avoiding reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and feeling constantly on guard, lasting more than a month and getting in the way of daily life.
Most people who go through trauma recover naturally over weeks or months. PTSD is when that recovery stalls. The PCL-5 used here is a screening checklist, not a diagnosis; a confirmed diagnosis needs an assessment with a trained clinician.
By What's Your IQ · Reviewed 4 Oct 2026- Questionnaire
- PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)
- Published
- 2013, Weathers et al., US National Center for PTSD; public domain
- Score
- 0–80; 31–33 is the usual screening cut-off
- Treatment
- Trauma-focused CBT or EMDR
IF YOU FEEL UNSETTLED RIGHT NOW
Bring yourself back to the present: 5-4-3-2-1
A grounding exercise therapists teach for moments when memories feel too close. Work through your senses one at a time, tapping each circle as you notice something.
5 · SEEName five things you can see around you.Look for small details: a colour, a shadow, the texture of a wall.
70% → 4%experience trauma vs develop PTSDIn surveys across 24 countries, about 70% of people had experienced a traumatic event, but only around 4% developed PTSD at some point. Recovery is the most common outcome.2,3
1980Recognised. PTSD entered the DSM-III, largely through work with Vietnam veterans, after earlier names like "shell shock".
2013The PCL-5. Weathers and colleagues updated the checklist for DSM-5's four symptom clusters. It's free to use and widely used in research and clinics.1
2017Across countries. World Mental Health surveys put lifetime PTSD at about 3.9% overall, higher in countries affected by conflict.3
2018Treatment works. NICE guidance recommends trauma-focused CBT, and EMDR for trauma more than three months old.4
- 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). National Center for PTSD.
- Kessler, R. C., et al. (2017). Trauma and PTSD in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(sup5), 1353383.
- Koenen, K. C., et al. (2017). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychological Medicine, 47(13), 2260–2274.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder (NG116).