PTSD test (PC-PTSD-5)

Take the PC-PTSD-5 in 1 minute. Validated 5-item DSM-5 trauma screen (Prins 2016, US National Center for PTSD). Free, private, no signup.

Last updated: 5/2/2026 Sources verified: 5/2/2026

This calculator requires JavaScript to compute results. The methodology and formulas are documented below — you can compute manually using the inputs and equations.

How PC-PTSD-5 is calculated

The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) was developed by the US National Center for PTSD (Prins, 2016) and validated against the gold-standard CAPS-5 clinical interview. It opens with one trauma-exposure gate question — if you answer “no”, the test stops there because the 5 follow-up items only have meaning for people who report exposure.

If you answer “yes”, you respond yes/no to 5 items capturing the four DSM-5 PTSD symptom clusters from the past month: intrusion (nightmares, unwanted thoughts), avoidance, hyperarousal (constantly on guard), numbing/detachment, and altered mood (guilt or blame). One point per “yes”. Total score: 0-5.

The validated cut-off is 3 or more = positive. At this cut-off the screen has sensitivity around 0.95 and specificity around 0.85 against full clinical interview. About 71% of people who screen positive meet full DSM-5 PTSD criteria on a structured assessment.

What your score means

Score	Band	What it means
No exposure	Test not applicable	The test only screens people who report exposure to a serious event.
0-2	Below threshold (green)	Most people in this range do not have PTSD on full assessment.
3	Positive screen (amber)	Cut-off recommended for fuller specialist assessment.
4-5	Probable PTSD (red)	High probability of PTSD on full clinical interview.

A positive screen is not a diagnosis. It is a flag that says: a 1-hour conversation with a trauma-trained specialist is worth the time.

When this test is most useful — and when it isn’t

PC-PTSD-5 is most useful:

1 month or more after a serious event, when symptoms have had time to either fade or settle into PTSD.
In primary care, where it was specifically designed and validated.
As a self-screen before a GP visit, to give the conversation a clear starting point.

It is less useful:

In the first 4 weeks after trauma, where symptoms are part of normal recovery (acute stress reaction, not PTSD).
For complex PTSD from prolonged early-life trauma — the ITQ or Trauma Symptom Inventory may capture more.
For people who have not been exposed to the kind of event the screen requires.

PTSD vs other trauma reactions

PTSD overlaps with several other conditions, and a clinician untangles them in person:

Acute stress disorder — same symptoms but within the first month. Often resolves without specialist treatment.
Complex PTSD (cPTSD) — from sustained or repeated trauma, often in childhood. Includes PTSD plus difficulties with self-concept, emotion regulation, and relationships.
Adjustment disorder — distress after a non-traumatic stressor (job loss, divorce). Different treatment path.
Depression and anxiety — frequently co-occur with PTSD. Often need parallel treatment.
Substance use — many people with PTSD use alcohol or drugs to manage symptoms. Treating the trauma typically reduces use.

GAD-7 anxiety screen — anxiety frequently co-occurs with PTSD.
PHQ-9 depression screen — depression overlaps heavily with PTSD.
PSS-10 perceived stress — broader stress measure, useful when trauma exposure is unclear.

Sources verified: 2026-05-02

Prins A, Bovin MJ, Smolenski DJ, et al. “The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5): Development and Evaluation Within a Veteran Primary Care Sample.” J Gen Intern Med 2016;31(10):1206-11. PubMed 27170304.
Bovin MJ, Kimerling R, Weathers FW, et al. Further validation of the PC-PTSD-5 in mixed-trauma samples. PubMed 33729856.
US Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD.

Privacy

All calculations run in your browser. We never see, log, or store your individual answers. Only an anonymous event (locale, severity band, exposure yes/no) is sent to a privacy-respecting analytics service.

Frequently asked questions

What is a positive PC-PTSD-5 screen?

A score of 3 or more out of 5 is the validated cut-off for a positive screen (Prins 2016). About 71% of people who screen positive meet full DSM-5 PTSD criteria on a clinical interview. A positive screen is not a diagnosis — it means a 1-hour assessment with a mental-health specialist is justified.

I haven't experienced trauma. Should I still take this?

PC-PTSD-5 is designed to screen people exposed to a serious or traumatic event. If you answer no to the trauma-exposure gate, the test isn't applicable to you right now — and that's a good thing. For general distress, GAD-7 (anxiety) or PHQ-9 (depression) are more useful.

Does PTSD always need medication?

No. The first-line treatments for PTSD are talking therapies — trauma-focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and EMDR. About 80% of people who finish a full course see meaningful improvement within 12-16 sessions. Medication (typically SSRIs) is sometimes used alongside, especially when sleep or mood are heavily affected.

What's the difference between PTSD and a normal stress reaction?

A normal stress reaction in the first month after trauma — bad sleep, intrusive thoughts, numbness — is part of recovery, not PTSD. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist beyond 1 month and significantly impair daily life. PC-PTSD-5 is designed for screening at and beyond that 1-month mark.

Can EMDR really make a difference?

Yes, with strong evidence. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of two first-line trauma therapies recommended by the WHO and APA. Most people see clear symptom reduction within 8-12 sessions. The mechanism is debated, but the outcome data is unusually consistent across studies.

Are my answers private?

Yes. Calculations run in your browser. We never see your individual answers — only an anonymous severity-band signal goes to privacy-respecting analytics.