What does the PCL-5 measure?

The PCL-5 measures the 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms across four clusters: Intrusion (B), Avoidance (C), Negative alterations in cognition and mood (D), and Alterations in arousal and reactivity (E).

What is the cut-point for a positive PTSD screen?

Research suggests a provisional positive screen at a total score of 31–33. Some studies use 33 as the cut-point. A score at or above this threshold warrants further evaluation by a qualified clinician.

Is this tool a clinical diagnosis?

No. This tool is for informational and screening purposes only. Only a licensed healthcare professional can diagnose PTSD. If you are in distress, please seek help immediately.

What are the four DSM-5 symptom clusters?

Cluster B (Intrusion) = items 1–5; Cluster C (Avoidance) = items 6–7; Cluster D (Negative cognitions/mood) = items 8–14; Cluster E (Arousal/reactivity) = items 15–20.

Can I use the symptom cluster method instead?

Yes. The DSM-5 symptom-cluster scoring method counts an item as positive if rated 2 (Moderately) or higher, then requires at least 1 B item, 1 C item, 2 D items, and 2 E items. This tool shows both the total score and cluster subtotals to support either method.

PCL-5 PTSD Checklist Scorer

Rate all 20 PCL-5 items and get your total PTSD symptom severity score with DSM-5 provisional diagnosis guidance.

Instructions

Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful experience. Rate how much each problem has bothered you in the past month.

0Not at all

1A little bit

2Moderately

3Quite a bit

4Extremely

Your Score

—

out of 80

Rate all items to see your score

Cluster Subtotals

B — Intrusion (items 1–5) —

C — Avoidance (items 6–7) —

D — Neg. Cognitions (8–14) —

E — Arousal (items 15–20) —

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a clinical diagnosis. Consult a licensed professional if you have concerns.

Summary

The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptom severity according to DSM-5 criteria. Each item is rated from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely), yielding a total score from 0 to 80. A provisional positive screen is generally indicated by a total score of 31–33 or higher, though clinicians may also apply a symptom-cluster method.

How it works

Read each of the 20 symptom items carefully.
Rate how much the symptom has bothered you in the past month using the 0–4 scale.
Click "Calculate Score" when all 20 items are rated.
Review your total score and the four DSM-5 symptom cluster subtotals.
Use the cut-point guidance to understand what your score may indicate.
Share the result summary with a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation.

Use cases

Screen for PTSD symptoms after a traumatic event.
Track symptom severity over time during or after treatment.
Assist clinicians and researchers with standardized PTSD measurement.
Understand which DSM-5 symptom clusters are most prominent.
Prepare for a mental health appointment by quantifying your symptoms.
Use as part of a broader mental health self-assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-23 · Reviewed by Nham Vu