Can this test diagnose PTSD?

No. This is an educational self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose PTSD or another condition after reviewing exposure, duration, impact, safety, and alternative explanations.

Is this the same as the PCL-5?

This test uses the 20 public-domain PCL-5 items and standard 0-80 scoring. It shows both edges of the commonly used 31-33 screening window because the appropriate cut point varies by population and purpose.

What result suggests I might have PTSD?

The U.S. VA describes 31-33 as a common PCL-5 screening window. This report also shows the four-cluster item pattern. Neither method is a diagnosis, and trauma exposure, duration, daily impact, safety, and other explanations still need review.

Can emotional abuse or childhood trauma lead to PTSD?

Emotional abuse and childhood adversity can lead to serious lasting symptoms. A DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis also requires a qualifying type of trauma exposure, so a clinician must review the full context and consider PTSD, complex PTSD, and other explanations.

What should I do after taking the PTSD test?

Treat the result as a starting point. If symptoms feel persistent, intense, or disruptive, consider contacting a therapist or doctor. In a crisis or if you feel unsafe, contact local emergency services or a crisis line immediately.

Free Online PTSD Test

PTSD Test: Do I Have PTSD? Free Online PCL-5 Self-Check

Wondering whether a frightening or stressful experience has led to post-traumatic stress symptoms? This free test follows the 20-item PCL-5 format and covers intrusion, avoidance, negative mood and thinking, and hyperarousal. It takes about five minutes and stays private on your device.

Start the PTSD Test See PTSD Symptoms

5 minutes: Short, guided self-check
100% private: Answers stay on your device
Free forever: No sign-up, no cost

PTSD self-assessment (PCL-5 based)

Take the PTSD Test

Think about your most stressful or frightening experience. For each item, choose how much it has bothered you in the past month. This private PTSD self-test follows the PCL-5 format and stays on your device.

Format

20 PCL-5 items

Based on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, mapped to four symptom clusters.

Privacy

Local-only answers

No sign-up, no saved history, and no account wall before results.

Outcome

Score and screening landmarks

See both common cut points, the four-cluster rule, and your highest-rated items.

0 of 20 answered0%

1Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience.
2Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience.
3Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (flashbacks).
4Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience.
5Having strong physical reactions when reminded of the stressful experience, such as heart pounding or sweating.
6Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience.
7Avoiding external reminders, such as people, places, conversations, activities, or objects.
8Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience.
9Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world.
10Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it.
11Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame.
12Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
13Feeling distant or cut off from other people.
14Trouble experiencing positive feelings, like happiness or love.
15Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively.
16Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm.
17Being super alert, watchful, or on guard.
18Feeling jumpy or easily startled.
19Having difficulty concentrating.
20Trouble falling or staying asleep.

Please answer all questions to see your result.

Understanding PTSD

What is PTSD? Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Symptoms can leave the nervous system responding as though danger is still present.

People often wonder whether they have PTSD when reactions no longer seem to match the present situation: a loud sound, familiar place, or tense conversation can suddenly feel overwhelming. A self-test can organize those reactions into a recognizable pattern, but cannot diagnose their cause.

PTSD vs. trauma: what is the difference?

Trauma describes the emotional and physical impact of an overwhelming experience. PTSD is a specific diagnosable condition that can develop afterward. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and pain can be real without a formal diagnosis. An online self-test is therefore best used as a screening signal, not a verdict.

PTSD symptoms

The four PTSD symptom clusters this test covers

DSM-5 organizes PTSD symptoms into four groups. The questions above cover each one so the report can show both total score and symptom pattern.

Re-experiencing (intrusion)

Unwanted memories, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional distress, or physical reactions that make a past event feel present again.

Avoidance

Avoiding thoughts, feelings, people, places, conversations, activities, or objects connected with what happened.

Negative mood and cognition

Persistent guilt or blame, negative beliefs, memory gaps, detachment, loss of interest, or difficulty experiencing positive feelings.

Hyperarousal and reactivity

Feeling on guard, easily startled, irritable, reckless, unable to concentrate, or having trouble sleeping.

Beyond PTSD

What is complex PTSD (CPTSD)?

Complex PTSD is included in ICD-11 and is often associated with repeated or prolonged trauma that was difficult to escape. In addition to core PTSD features, it includes persistent difficulty regulating emotions, a negative self-concept, and relationship problems.

The DSM-5-TR does not list complex PTSD as a separate diagnosis. If your difficulties feel rooted in years of early stress, information about childhood adversity may help organize a conversation with a qualified clinician.

Explore the childhood trauma test

Next steps

When should you seek help for PTSD symptoms?

Consider speaking with a trauma-informed professional if symptoms have lasted more than a month, are getting worse, or interfere with sleep, work, relationships, or your sense of safety.

Effective treatments exist, including trauma-focused therapy and, when appropriate, medication. If you feel unsafe or unable to cope, contact local emergency services or a crisis service immediately.

Evidence and limits

PCL-5 scoring source and online PTSD test limitations

The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure used to screen and monitor PTSD symptoms. A score can support a provisional assessment, but diagnosis requires qualified clinical judgment in context.

VA National Center for PTSD: PCL-5

Official administration, scoring, symptom-cluster, cutoff, and interpretation guidance for the PCL-5.

NIMH: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

An overview of PTSD symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and when to seek help.

PTSD test FAQ

PTSD test FAQ: symptoms, accuracy, and results

This self-test uses the 20 PCL-5 symptom items and the standard past-month response scale. It reports total score, four symptom clusters, the DSM-5 item-count pattern, and the commonly used 31-33 screening window.

Compare PTSD symptoms with other trauma self-assessments

You can also take the general trauma test, reflect on emotional trauma, or explore your stress-response style.

General Trauma Test Emotional Trauma Test Trauma Response Test