PCL-5 · 4 minutes
PTSD self-screener (PCL-5)
Reflect on the past month and a stressful or traumatic experience that's affecting you. Twenty short items map directly onto DSM-5 PTSD criteria. Result identifies whether structured trauma-focused evaluation is warranted.
Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience.
Educational tool — not a diagnosis. PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Weathers et al. 2013. Standard self-report instrument for PTSD screening and severity tracking.
Frequently asked
Plain-language answers about ptsd, this screener, and what evaluation costs at a Class A hospital in China.
- What's a positive PCL-5 screen?
- A total score of 33 or higher is the conventional cutoff suggesting probable PTSD warranting further evaluation. The DSM-5 symptom-cluster method counts a moderate or higher rating on ≥1 intrusion + ≥1 avoidance + ≥2 negative cognition / mood + ≥2 arousal items as a provisional diagnosis.
- Are evidence-based PTSD treatments available in China?
- Yes. Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure, and EMDR are increasingly available at major academic psychiatry departments — sometimes with English-speaking clinicians. Pharmacotherapy (SSRIs / SNRIs) is widely available.
- What if my trauma is recent?
- Acute stress symptoms in the first month after a trauma are common and not yet PTSD by DSM-5 criteria. Watchful waiting plus brief support is often the appropriate approach. PCL-5 is most informative one month or more after the precipitating event.
About this screener
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Weathers et al. 2013. Standard self-report instrument for PTSD screening and severity tracking.
What this screener covers
- Post-traumatic stress disorder(ICD-10 F43.10)
Medical review
Reviewed by Panda Touring Care medical team (Psychiatry coordinator review) · last reviewed 2025-04-01
Other self-assessments
Weight loss & GLP-1 candidacy screener
BMI, waist circumference, prior attempts and comorbidities — see whether GLP-1 medication, lifestyle support, or surgical evaluation is the best next step.
Psychiatry · NeurodevelopmentalAdult ADHD self-screener (ASRS-v1.1)
The 6-item Part A of the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Validated screen for adults 18+. Not a diagnosis — but a strong indicator of whether a full evaluation is warranted.
Psychiatry · Mental healthDepression screener (PHQ-9)
The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire — the most widely used validated depression screener in primary care worldwide. Free, 3 minutes, immediate results.
Psychiatry · Mental healthAnxiety screener (GAD-7)
The 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale — the standard validated screener for adult anxiety. Free, 2 minutes.
Hepatology · Addiction medicineAlcohol use screener (AUDIT-C)
Three-question alcohol use screener used by the WHO and US Veterans Affairs. Identifies hazardous drinking patterns in under a minute.
Sleep medicineInsomnia severity index (ISI)
Validated 7-item insomnia severity scale. Identifies clinically significant insomnia and tracks treatment response.