0–2 Yes responses
Below the VA public self-screen threshold. Persistent or impairing symptoms can still deserve attention.
Clinical screening tool · trauma-related symptoms
PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD-5)
Check for five common trauma-related symptom signals over the past month. Your symptom count and screening interpretation are free. You never have to describe what happened.
What this doesFocused self-checkTimeAbout 2 minutesPrivacyNo signupResultFree full result
Free full result5 symptom itemsAbout 2 minutesPublic-domain instrumentNo signup
Full basic result · no account · no email · no trauma description requested
No trauma narrativeYou never have to type what happened.
Public self-screenThe VA public self-screen treats 3+ Yes responses as a reason to follow up.
Private by defaultAnswers stay in this browser tab while you complete the assessment.
Instrument registrySee rights, evidence and limitations →What you will do
Start with one trauma-exposure question.
If you answer No, the screen ends there. If you answer Yes, you will see five Yes/No questions about how the experience has affected you during the past month.
- You do not have to describe the event.
- The symptom score ranges from 0 to 5 and counts only the five symptom questions.
- The score, screening interpretation, limitations, and next steps are free.
- A positive screen means “look closer,” not “you have PTSD.”
What the PC-PTSD-5 measures
Five trauma-related symptoms over the previous month.
The PC-PTSD-5 asks about unwanted memories or nightmares, avoidance, feeling constantly on guard, emotional detachment, and guilt or blame after a qualifying traumatic event. It is intended to identify people who may benefit from fuller PTSD assessment.
3–5 Yes responses
Positive range on the VA public self-screen; professional follow-up may be worthwhile.
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A positive screen is not a diagnosis
The VA notes that cut-points can vary by population and purpose. Its public self-screen uses 3 or more Yes responses, while professional settings may choose another threshold depending on the cost of false positives and false negatives.
Scoring and interpretation
How the free PC-PTSD-5 result is calculated
The opening trauma-exposure item is not part of the symptom score. If that opening item is No, the screen ends with a score of 0. If it is Yes, each of the five symptom questions scores 1 for Yes and 0 for No, producing a total from 0 to 5.
The complete score and screening interpretation are free.
What a clinician adds
PTSD assessment looks at the whole pattern.
A qualified professional can assess the nature and timing of the trauma, symptom duration, functional impact, safety, depression, anxiety, grief, substance use, traumatic brain injury, sleep, medical factors, and other experiences that can overlap with PTSD symptoms.
What this screen can and cannot tell you
A brief PTSD screen tells you whether follow-up may be useful.
It cannot establish a diagnosis, measure every PTSD symptom, or determine which treatment is right for you. A lower score also does not mean that trauma-related distress is unimportant if symptoms are persistent or affecting daily life.
Clinical review and use limits
This screening implementation should not be treated as a validated clinical or diagnostic tool unless an independent qualified reviewer verifies the exact PC-PTSD-5 wording, branching, public self-screen threshold, trauma-sensitive wording, privacy flow, and U.S.-first care guidance.
Sources and instrument governance
Why we use the PC-PTSD-5 carefully.
- VA National Center for PTSD — PC-PTSD-5 instrument, scoring, and availability
- VA public PTSD self-screen and consumer interpretation
- Bovin et al. — diagnostic accuracy study
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD states that the PC-PTSD-5 was developed by National Center staff and is in the public domain and not copyrighted. Final production use still remains subject to our clinical-review gate.
Frequently asked questions
Before you take a PTSD screen
Do I have to describe the traumatic event?
No. This screen only asks whether an event matching its broad examples occurred, followed by Yes/No symptom questions. It does not ask you to write out what happened.
Does a positive PC-PTSD-5 screen mean I have PTSD?
No. It means the symptom pattern may deserve fuller trauma-informed assessment.
Why might another source mention a cut-point of 4?
The VA professional guidance notes that a cut-point of 4 balanced false positives and false negatives in a large VA primary-care sample, while lower thresholds can be appropriate in some populations or settings. The VA public self-screen uses 3 or more Yes responses.
Interpreting a trauma screen
A PC-PTSD-5 result tells you whether follow-up may be useful, not whether you have PTSD
The screen samples a small set of trauma-related symptoms. A professional assessment can examine the traumatic event, the full symptom pattern, persistence, functional impact, depression, substance use, dissociation, physical health and safety.
| If the screen is… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Negative but you are struggling | A brief screen can miss concerns outside the items it samples; persistent impairment still deserves discussion. |
| Positive | Arrange fuller assessment rather than treating the result as a diagnosis. |
| Associated with immediate danger | Use urgent support rather than waiting for another questionnaire or appointment. |
For a broader symptom map, read the PTSD and trauma hub. If you are unsure whether persistent fear fits PTSD or generalized anxiety, see PTSD vs anxiety.
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Assessment privacy and limits
No payment or email is required to complete this free screening experience. Results are educational and must not be treated as a diagnosis or substitute for professional assessment.
Read before or after the screen
These educational guides explain the surrounding clinical concepts. They do not replace diagnosis or professional assessment.