The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-question self-assessment used to understand whether someone might be experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

It helps explore the emotional and physical effects that can follow distressing or traumatic experiences.

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🧠 What does it assess?
The PCL-5 looks at four key areas of trauma-related symptoms:

Intrusive memories
– Flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing thoughts

Avoidance
– Trying to avoid reminders of the trauma, including thoughts, feelings, or places

Changes in mood and thinking
– Feeling detached, guilty, numb, or negative about yourself and the world

Changes in alertness or reactivity
– Being jumpy, irritable, always on guard, or having sleep problems

Each question asks how much you've been bothered by each symptom in the past month.