From the Guidelines
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is the most appropriate questionnaire to diagnose PTSD, as it assesses the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria, which include symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and increased arousal that persist for at least 1 month and result in significant impairment in social, academic, or other areas of functioning 1.
Key Features of the PCL-5
- The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms
- Patients rate each symptom on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with a total score of 31-33 or higher suggesting probable PTSD
- The questionnaire covers four symptom clusters: intrusion symptoms, avoidance behaviors, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal symptoms
Importance of Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
- While the PCL-5 is a valuable tool for screening, a formal diagnosis of PTSD should always involve a comprehensive clinical assessment by a qualified mental health professional 1
- This assessment should take into account the patient's trauma exposure, subsequent symptoms, and significant impairment in social, academic, or other areas of functioning
Other Diagnostic Tools
- The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) is considered the gold standard clinical interview for diagnosing PTSD
- The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD-5) is a brief 5-item screening tool suitable for primary care settings
- These questionnaires help clinicians identify PTSD by systematically assessing trauma exposure and subsequent symptoms, allowing for appropriate treatment planning 1
From the Research
Questionnaire to Diagnose PTSD
- The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is a widely used structured diagnostic interview for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2.
- The CAPS-5 has demonstrated strong interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity with other measures of PTSD symptoms 2.
- The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a self-report measure of PTSD symptoms that has also demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity 3.
Comparison of CAPS-5 and PCL-5
- Studies have found that PCL-5 scores are often higher than CAPS-5 scores, suggesting that individuals may report more severe symptoms on self-report measures than on clinician-administered interviews 4, 5.
- The concordance between CAPS-5 and PCL-5 scores has been found to be generally high, but not identical, with CAPS-5 scores indicating somewhat greater symptom improvement over time 5.
Psychometric Evaluation
- The CAPS-5 and PCL-5 have both undergone psychometric evaluation and have been found to be reliable and valid measures of PTSD symptoms 2, 3.
- The PCL-5 has been found to have strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity, and has been shown to be a useful tool for assessing PTSD symptoms in a variety of contexts 3.
- The CAPS-5 has been found to have strong interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity, and has been shown to be a useful tool for diagnosing PTSD and assessing symptom severity 2.