PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C)
Psychology: Mental HealthReliability: alpha 0.943 sample items
About this scale
A 17-item self-report measure of PTSD symptoms across DSM-IV criteria. Now largely replaced by PCL-5 for DSM-5 but still in legacy use.
Sample item(s)
“Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience”
“Avoiding activities or situations because they remind you of a stressful experience”
“Feeling distant or cut off from other people”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.94. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Use PCL-5 for new research.
Source & citation
Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Herman, D. S., Huska, J. A., & Keane, T. M. (1993): The PTSD Checklist (PCL): Reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility. Annual Convention of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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