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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

Self Assessment Tool

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PTSD Self-Assessment Tool (PCL-5)

Trauma Check-In: Posttraumatic Stress Self-Assessment

Important: This is a Screening Tool, Not a Diagnosis

This tool is designed to help you recognize and track potential trauma symptoms over the **past month**. The results are **not** a clinical diagnosis. A formal diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can only be made by a qualified health professional after a comprehensive clinical evaluation.

The results of this screener are intended solely to guide a conversation with your doctor or therapist.

If you are in crisis, having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or feel unable to cope, please do not use this tool. Instead, contact 9-8-8 (the Suicide Crisis Helpline) immediately, go to your nearest emergency room, or call 911.

Instructions: Below is a list of problems that people sometimes have after a stressful experience. Please read each one and mark how much you have been bothered by it in the **past month**.

In the past month, how much have you been bothered by...
1. Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience?

2. Disturbing dreams about the stressful experience?

3. Suddenly acting or feeling as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were reliving it)?

4. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience?

5. Having strong physical reactions (for example, heart pounding, sweating, dizziness) when something reminded you of the stressful experience?

6. Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience?

7. Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)?

8. Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience?

9. Negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example, "I am bad," "You cannot trust anyone," "The world is completely dangerous")?

10. On-going, distorted beliefs about the cause or consequences of the stressful experience that lead you to blame yourself or others?

11. Strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame?

12. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?

13. Feeling detached or estranged from other people?

20. Feeling isolated or alone?

14. Difficulty concentrating?

15. Being "superalert" or watchful or on guard?

16. Being easily startled?

17. Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively?

18. Reckless or self-destructive behavior?

19. Difficulty falling or staying asleep?

Please answer all 20 questions before seeing your results.

Your Score: Low Indication (Score: )

Your total score and symptom clusters suggest you may not be experiencing clinically significant levels of posttraumatic stress at this time.

Note: If you still feel distressed, overwhelmed, or are struggling with a specific issue, it is still valuable to seek support. These results do not preclude other mental health conditions.

Your Score: High Indication (Score: )

Your total score is above the most common clinical cutoff (33), or you met the preliminary symptom criteria for PTSD. This indicates a high likelihood of meeting preliminary diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

It is highly recommended that you discuss these results with a qualified mental health professional (like one of our therapists) or your doctor for a full clinical assessment.

Your Score: Clinically Significant Symptoms (Score: )

Your total score is significantly high and you show strong indicators across multiple symptom clusters. These results suggest strong evidence of clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Please know that effective, evidence-based treatments (like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE)) are available for PTSD. The most important next step is to schedule an evaluation with a trauma-informed therapist or clinician as soon as possible.

Immediate Help & Resources

If you need to speak to someone urgently, please use these resources.

  • Crisis Services Canada: Call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline)
  • Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566
  • ConnexOntario: Call 1-866-531-2600 (for mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services)
  • Emergency Services: Call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.