13 July 2022
Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5)
The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) is a screening tool designed to identify persons with the probable PTSD.
Current research suggests that the results of the PC-PTSD-5 screening should be considered “positive” if a patient answers “yes” to any three items in the below questions.
Those screening positive require further assessment, preferably with a structured interview for the post-traumatic stress disorder, which should be conducted by a mental-health professional who has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Questions to PTSD Screen using the PC-PTSD-5 scale
Sometimes things happen to people that are unusually or especially frightening, horrible, or traumatic. For example:
- A war
- A serious accident or fire
- A physical or sexual assault or abuse
- An earthquake or flood
- Seeing someone be killed or seriously injured
- Having a loved one die through homicide or suicide.
If you have ever experienced something like this, please answer which of the following events you have had in the past month:
- 1. Have you had nightmares about the event(s) or thought about the event(s) when you did not want to?
- Yes
- No
- 2. Have you tried hard not to think about the event(s) or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of the event(s)?
- Yes
- No
- 3. Have you been constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?
- Yes
- No
- 4. Have you felt numb or detached from people, activities, or your surroundings?
- Yes
- No
- 5. Have you felt guilty or unable to stop blaming yourself or others for the event(s) or any problems the event(s) may have caused?
- Yes
- No
Your result: 0Current research suggests that the PC-PTSD-5 should be considered "negative" if the patient answers "no" to any three or more items.
- 1. Have you had nightmares about the event(s) or thought about the event(s) when you did not want to?
