Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD-5)

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The PC-PTSD-5 is a five-item screening tool designed to identify adults at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is optimized for use in primary care and general health settings following a confirmed exposure to a traumatic event.

Recommended Frequency: Administer during initial intake or annual wellness screenings, and repeat as clinically indicated following trauma disclosure or worsening symptoms.

About the PC-PTSD-5

The PC-PTSD-5 was developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a quick and effective screen for PTSD symptoms based on DSM-5 criteria. It follows an initial trauma exposure question and is designed for use in both medical and mental health settings.

Psychometric Properties

The PC-PTSD-5 has demonstrated strong diagnostic utility, especially in high-risk populations. In validation studies among veterans:

  • Sensitivity: ~0.95
  • Specificity: ~0.85
  • A cutoff score of 3 or more “yes” responses is commonly used to identify individuals who may need further PTSD assessment.
Source: Prins et al., 2016

The Scale

The tool begins with a trauma screening question to confirm exposure to a Criterion A event. If endorsed, five yes/no items follow, addressing core PTSD symptoms:

  1. Intrusive thoughts or nightmares
  2. Avoidance
  3. Hypervigilance
  4. Numbing or detachment
  5. Persistent negative emotions

Each “yes” response is scored as 1 point. Total scores range from 0–5.

Score Range

  • 0–2: Unlikely to meet PTSD criteria
  • 3–5: Elevated risk; further assessment recommended

This is a screening tool only and does not confirm diagnosis.

Copyright

© U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Developed by the National Center for PTSD.

References

  1. Prins, A., Bovin, M. J., Smolenski, D. J., Marx, B. P., Kimerling, R., Jenkins-Guarnieri, M. A., … & Tiet, Q. Q. (2016). The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5): Development and evaluation within a veteran primary care sample. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(10), 1206–1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3703-5
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – National Center for PTSD. PC-PTSD-5. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/screens/pc-ptsd.asp

Disclaimer

This summary is for informational use only and is not a substitute for clinical judgment. HiBoop does not provide diagnostic services or interpret clinical results.

Permissions

The PC-PTSD-5 is freely available for clinical and research use under U.S. government terms. It may be used and reproduced without license for non-commercial purposes. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/screens/pc-ptsd.asp

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can this be used for clients with complex trauma or CPTSD?

    It can indicate risk, but it won’t capture complex trauma features like affect regulation, relational disturbances, or identity issues. Use tools like the ITQ or PCL-5 for deeper exploration.

  • What if a client says “Yes” to trauma but “No” to all symptom items?

    They may have processed the trauma, or they may not feel safe discussing symptoms yet. Monitor and build trust before re-screening.

  • How long does it take to complete?

    Less than 2 minutes.

  • Can it be used with teens?

    It’s validated for adults. For adolescents, use age-appropriate trauma screeners such as the CPSS or UCLA PTSD Reaction Index.

  • Can the PC-PTSD-5 be used for diagnosis?

    No. It indicates possible PTSD and should lead to further evaluation, not a diagnosis on its own.