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Tags: Psychology , Psychometrics
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Post traumatic stress symptoms are patterns of difficult memories, dreams, reminders, avoidance, and alertness that follow a stressful experience. A short screen helps you notice current symptoms and decide whether to seek support.

The five item PC‑PTSD‑5 asks about the last month and tallies yes or no answers into a single score. You see a clear risk category that explains what a low or high result suggests and what you might do next.

You provide five simple answers and get an immediate result you can understand at a glance. For example, answering yes to frequent memories and to strong distress with reminders and to feeling on guard will likely produce a higher score and a high risk label.

A positive screen does not diagnose a condition and a negative screen does not rule one out. Use the same time frame and consistent judgment if you repeat the screen so that changes reflect real differences rather than guesswork.

This tool provides informational estimates and does not substitute professional advice.

Technical Details:

The instrument measures the presence of five post‑traumatic stress symptoms over a recent one‑month period. Each item is dichotomous, recorded as Yes = 1 and No = 0, and the total quantifies symptom presence at the moment of screening.

The computation is a simple sum of item indicators to yield a total score. That total is mapped to a risk category used for quick interpretation and next‑step planning.

Results fall into two bands: scores of 0–2 indicate low risk and scores of 3–5 indicate high risk. Values near the boundary deserve context and follow‑up rather than snap decisions.

Comparisons are most meaningful within the same person using the same one‑month frame. Group comparisons should be cautious because the screen is designed for rapid case finding rather than diagnosis.

S = ∑ i=1 5 xi risk(S) = High Risk if S≥3, else Low Risk
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
x1 Intrusive memories, thoughts, or images endorsed 0 or 1 Input
x2 Disturbing dreams endorsed 0 or 1 Input
x3 Strong distress when reminded endorsed 0 or 1 Input
x4 Avoidance of thoughts or situations endorsed 0 or 1 Input
x5 On guard or easily startled endorsed 0 or 1 Input
S Total score 0–5 Derived
Worked example.
S= x1+ x2+ x3+ x4+ x5 = 1+0+1+0+1 =3

Interpretation: S = 3 maps to High Risk. Consider a professional evaluation and supportive next steps.

Intrusion=x1+x2 Avoidance=x4 Reactivity=x3 Arousal=x5
Threshold Band Lower Bound Upper Bound Interpretation Action Cue
Low Risk 0 2 Few or no endorsed symptoms. Monitor, repeat if concerns persist.
High Risk 3 5 Elevated likelihood of PTSD symptoms. Consider timely professional evaluation.

Units, precision & rounding

Items are binary and the total is an integer from 0 to 5. Progress percentage is rounded to the nearest whole number. No floating‑point math is used.

Validation & bounds

Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error Text Placeholder
Item response Radio 0 1 Yes = 1, No = 0 — —
Encoded answers (r in URL) String 5 5 [01\-]{5} where - means blank Invalid values ignored -----

I/O, networking & storage

  • Input is five on‑screen yes/no selections; output includes a score, a risk badge, a compact summary, and an optional gauge.
  • Copy answers to clipboard, download as CSV, or export a DOCX once all five items are answered.
  • Processing is client‑only; no responses are transmitted or stored on a server.
  • A charting script is fetched from a public content host; user inputs are not sent with that request.
  • Encoded answers may appear in the location bar via the r parameter for easy revisiting and sharing.

Security considerations

  • Clipboard access occurs only when you choose to copy; content stays on the device.
  • CSV and DOCX files are generated locally; review before sharing.
  • Be mindful that sharing a link can include encoded answers in r.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Screen reflects the last month; other time frames change meaning.
  • Binary items limit nuance compared with structured interviews.
  • Near‑threshold scores benefit from context and retesting.
  • Same person comparisons are more reliable than group comparisons.
  • Drivers and strengths lists mirror endorsed versus unendorsed items.
  • Gauge displays only after all items are answered.
  • Risk labels are labels, not diagnoses.
  • Heads‑up External stresses or supports can shift results without clinical change.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Partial responses do not produce a gauge or final panel.
  • Accidental double‑clicks may flip a response; review before finishing.
  • Ambiguous memories may lead to inconsistent answers across repeats.
  • Using a different month window reduces comparability.
  • Manually edited r values that fail the pattern are ignored.
  • Copy/export actions are unavailable until all items are answered.
  • Very fast answering can outpace screen readers; take your time.
  • Rounded progress may display 100 % at completion only.
  • Unsupported clipboard permissions prevent copying; use download instead.
  • Blocking third‑party scripts may hide the gauge but not the score.

Scientific/standards notes

The package labels the instrument as a clinically validated five‑item screen and encodes a 3‑plus cutoff for elevated risk. No external references are bundled with the build.

Privacy & compliance

No data is transmitted or stored server‑side. Exports are created locally on your device.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

PC‑PTSD‑5 screening converts five yes/no answers into a total score and a risk label.

  1. Select Begin Assessment to load the first item.
  2. Answer each item with Yes or No for the last month.
  3. Use the question list to revisit any item before finishing.
  4. After the fifth answer, review the risk label and summary.
  5. Optionally copy answers, download CSV, or export a DOCX record.
  6. Share the link if you want the encoded answers preserved in r.
Example. Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes → total 3 → High Risk with Intrusion = 1, Reactivity = 1, Arousal = 1.
  • Pro tip: answer once without interruptions, then repeat later to see a stable pattern.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. Responses stay on your device. Copy, CSV, and DOCX are generated locally, and the app never sends answers to a server.

Sharing a link may include encoded answers in r.
How accurate is this screen?

It is a quick case‑finding tool. A total of 3 or more is labeled High Risk. Results guide next steps but are not a diagnosis.

What time frame should I use?

Answer for the last month. Using a different window changes meaning and reduces comparability.

Can I use it without a connection?

An initial connection is needed to load assets. After that, scoring runs locally; exports and the score do not require a server.

How do I export my answers?

Finish all five items to enable Copy CSV, Download CSV, and Export DOCX. These options appear with the answer table.

Why is the gauge not showing?

The gauge appears only after all items are answered. Content blockers can also prevent the chart from loading.

What does a borderline result mean?

A score of 2 is below the cutoff, while 3 or more is high risk. Near the boundary, consider context and a timely follow‑up.

Is there a cost or license?

No pricing is indicated in this build. Use is unrestricted within the app as provided.

Troubleshooting:

  • No result after answering: check that all five items are answered.
  • No Copy action: clipboard permission may be blocked; use Download CSV.
  • DOCX disabled: it enables only after all items are answered.
  • Chart missing: allow third‑party scripts or view the numeric score and badge.
  • Strange link behavior: remove or correct the r parameter.
  • Inconsistent scores: ensure you use the same one‑month window each time.

Advanced Tips:

  • Share a link with the r code to preserve or revisit answers.
  • Use quiet time to minimize noise in your responses.
  • Note any major events between screens to explain changes.
  • Review “Drivers & strengths” to see which items shift your score.
  • Repeat at consistent intervals for trend visibility.
  • Keep exports on a secure device if they contain sensitive details.

Use these practices to improve signal and make results easier to compare over time.

Glossary:

PC‑PTSD‑5
Five‑item symptom screen for post‑traumatic stress.
Item
A single yes/no symptom question.
Total score (S)
Sum of five item indicators from 0 to 5.
Risk category
Low Risk for 0–2; High Risk for 3–5.
Encoded answers (r)
Five‑character code using 0, 1, and - for blanks.
Intrusion/Avoidance
Clusters summarizing endorsed memories/dreams and efforts to steer away.
Reactivity/Arousal
Clusters summarizing distress to reminders and heightened startle or vigilance.