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Categories: Assessment , Health & Fitness , Psychology
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental-health condition that can emerge after experiencing or witnessing trauma. The PC-PTSD-5 questionnaire condenses clinical criteria into five clear prompts, allowing quick identification of potential symptom clusters without a lengthy interview.

This tool walks you through each prompt, records a simple Yes or No, sums affirmative responses, then visualises the score on a semi-circular gauge. A label instantly classifies the result as low or high risk using the recommended clinical cut-off.

You might complete the screen before a primary-care visit, after a critical incident, or for research requiring rapid self-checks. Treat the score as a conversation starter rather than a diagnosis. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

Designed for primary-care settings, the PC-PTSD-5 reflects DSM-5 symptom clusters—intrusion, avoidance, negative cognition/mood, and arousal—over the previous month. Studies show it balances brevity with acceptable sensitivity and specificity, making it an efficient triage step before full diagnostic interviews.

Total Score = ∑ i=1 5 Responsei

Each Responsei equals 1 for “Yes” and 0 for “No”. The sum ranges from 0 to 5.

ScoreRisk CategoryRecommended Action
0 – 2Low RiskMonitor; maintain healthy coping routines.
3 – 5High RiskSeek professional evaluation for PTSD.
  • Q1 – Intrusion: Disturbing memories of the event.
  • Q2 – Dreams: Repeated distressing dreams.
  • Q3 – Upset on Cues: Intense distress when reminded.
  • Q4 – Avoidance: Steering clear of reminders.
  • Q5 – Hyper-arousal: Feeling on guard or startled.
  • Assumes recall of the past month.
  • Binary responses may omit symptom intensity.
  • Screen cannot detect complex PTSD.
  • Cut-off validated in adult primary-care samples only.
  • All questions left blank yields no score.
  • All “Yes” answers from acute stress may inflate risk.
  • Misinterpretation of items skews totals.
  • Low literacy can hinder comprehension.

Key studies: Prins et al. (2016); Bovin et al. (2020) examining sensitivity/specificity; Weathers et al. (2018) linking items to DSM-5 criteria.

The screen processes five non-identifying booleans entirely in-browser, aligning with GDPR and HIPAA principles for minimal data.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Complete the questionnaire in sequence or jump between items as needed.

  1. Tap Begin Assessment.
  2. Select Yes or No for each prompt.
  3. Use the question list to revisit or change any answer.
  4. After the fifth response, view your total score and gauge.
  5. Print or save the summary for discussion with a professional.

FAQ:

Why five questions? The PC-PTSD-5 condenses DSM-5 symptom clusters into the minimum set found reliable for quick screening.
Is my data stored? No. All responses stay on your device and disappear when you close the page.
What if I score high? A high score signals elevated risk; arrange a clinical evaluation for a full diagnostic work-up.
Can I copy the results? Yes, the answers table is selectable and printable; share it with your healthcare provider.
Is the tool age-restricted? Validation studies focus on adults; seek age-appropriate tools for children or adolescents.

Glossary:

PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
PC-PTSD-5
Five-item Primary Care PTSD screen.
Cut-off Score
Threshold dividing low and high risk.
Intrusion
Unwanted memories or dreams.
Arousal
Hyper-vigilance or sudden startle.
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