💡 What is the PCL-5?

The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-question self-assessment used to understand whether someone might be experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

It helps explore the emotional and physical effects that can follow distressing or traumatic experiences.

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🧠 What does it assess?
The PCL-5 looks at four key areas of trauma-related symptoms:

Intrusive memories
Flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing thoughts

Avoidance
Trying to avoid reminders of the trauma, including thoughts, feelings, or places

Changes in mood and thinking
Feeling detached, guilty, numb, or negative about yourself and the world

Changes in alertness or reactivity
Being jumpy, irritable, always on guard, or having sleep problems

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Each question asks how much you've been bothered by each symptom in the past month.