PCL-5 PTSD Checklist: Score, Clusters and Cut-off

What it measures

The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report measure of PTSD symptoms mapped to the DSM-5 criteria. The patient rates how much each problem has bothered them in the past month in response to a very stressful experience. It is a screening and monitoring tool. It does not replace a clinical interview, and a provisional diagnosis from the PCL-5 needs confirmation; the tool notes that the CAPS-5 is the diagnostic gold standard.

Items and scoring

Each item is rated 0 (Not at all), 1 (A little bit), 2 (Moderately), 3 (Quite a bit) or 4 (Extremely). The total is the sum, from 0 to 80. The tool also shows four DSM-5 cluster scores:

Cluster	Items	Range	Provisional criterion
B – Intrusion	1–5	0–20	At least 1 item endorsed
C – Avoidance	6–7	0–8	At least 1 item endorsed
D – Negative cognitions and mood	8–14	0–28	At least 2 items endorsed
E – Arousal and reactivity	15–20	0–24	At least 2 items endorsed

An item counts as endorsed when rated 2 (Moderately) or higher. The provisional PTSD diagnosis shows "Met" only when all four criteria are met.

Interpreting the result

The validated decision point is the probable-PTSD cut-off. The tool cites research placing it between 31 and 33 and uses a total of 33 or more as "Above threshold". The tool also shows descriptive severity bands (minimal 0–10, mild 11–20, moderate 21–32, moderately severe 33–51, severe 52–80). These bands are labeled descriptive, not validated categories, and appear only after all 20 items are answered. For tracking treatment, the tool's note describes a change of 5–10 points as reliable change and 10–20 points as clinically meaningful change (National Center for PTSD).

What the report includes

Generate Report copies a plain-text summary with the date, total out of 80, the descriptive severity band, the four cluster scores, the provisional diagnosis with each criterion's endorsed-item count, the cut-off result, every item score, the scoring and screening notes, and two references: the National Center for PTSD PCL-5, and Blevins CA, Weathers FW, Davis MT, Witte TK, Domino JL. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28(6):489-498. A Print Blank Form button produces a paper copy, and Reset clears all responses after a confirmation.