What is the PCL-5?

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a widely used, standardized self-report measure designed to assess the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms. Originally developed in the 1990s by Weathers and colleagues at the National Center for PTSD, the checklist has since been revised to align with the updated diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5.

Use in Clinical Settings

The PCL-5 is used in a range of care settings—including primary care, mental health, and rehabilitation—to help screen individuals for PTSD, monitor symptom changes over time, and support a provisional PTSD diagnosis. It’s especially useful when paired with other tools for evaluating trauma-related distress and functional impairment.

How It Works

The PCL-5 includes 20 questions, each corresponding to one of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD outlined in the DSM-5. Patients are asked to rate how much they’ve been bothered by each symptom over the past month using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all to 4 = Extremely).

When administered in Creyos, responses are automatically scored to generate:

• A total severity score

• Four DSM-5 symptom cluster scores: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity

These scores can be used to track symptom progression, inform treatment decisions, and evaluate response to interventions over time.

Cognition and PTSD

Trauma and PTSD are strongly associated with cognitive dysfunction, including difficulties with memory, attention, and executive function. For example, research on 9/11 responders (Clouston et al., 2017) revealed significant cognitive impairment associated with long-term PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 is a valuable complement to Creyos cognitive tasks, allowing clinicians to evaluate subjective trauma-related symptoms alongside objective measures of cognitive function.

Clinical Considerations

While the PCL-5 provides a validated and efficient method for assessing PTSD symptoms, results should be interpreted within the broader clinical context. Use in conjunction with diagnostic interviews, cognitive assessments, and functional evaluations to ensure a comprehensive understanding of patient needs.

To explore all behavioral and cognitive health tools available in the Creyos platform, refer to the Creyos Standardized Questionnaires Guide.