PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Psychology: Mental HealthReliability: alpha 0.943 sample items
About this scale
A 20-item self-report measure of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms across four clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and hyperarousal.
Sample item(s)
“Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience”
“Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience”
“Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy”
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
Free for academic use; the most cited PTSD self-report.
Source & citation
Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2013): The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). National Center for PTSD.
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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