Protocol Overview

November 21, 2014

This section will be completed when reviewed by an Expert Review Panel.

The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is a 17-item self-report measure that assesses DSM-IV-based criteria in the past month. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = Not at all; 5 = Extremely) that indicates how much the participant has been bothered by the event.

This measure includes both the DSM-IV and DSM-5 versions of the PTSD Checklist. The PhenX PTSD Working Group anticipates that scientific demands will dictate that researchers typically collect data in accordance with the most recent PTSD criteria and will use the DSM-5 version of the protocol. However, under special circumstances (e.g., when adding to older, existing data sets), researchers may decide to use the DSM-IV version instead.

PCL-C

INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a list of problems and complaints that people sometimes have in response to stressful life experiences. Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month.

Scoring:

Scoring instructions are adapted from the handout "Using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-IV (PCL)" available from the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.

A total symptom severity score (range = 17-85) can be obtained by summing the scores from each of the 17 items that have response options ranging from 1 "Not at all" to 5 "Extremely."

A provisional diagnosis can be established in three ways:

1) Determine whether an individual meets DSM-IV symptom criteria as defined by at least 1 B item (questions 1-5), 3 C items (questions 6-12), and at least 2 D items (questions 13-17). Symptoms that are rated as "Moderately" or above (responses 3 through 5 on individual items) are counted as present.

2) Determine whether the total severity score exceeds a relevant normative threshold (e.g., for primary care settings).

3) Combine methods (1) and (2) to ensure that an individual meets both the symptom pattern and severity threshold.

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	Version	Mapping
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Memories	PX630301010000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Dreams	PX630301020000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Repeated, disturbing dreams of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Reliving	PX630301030000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Upset	PX630301040000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Physical_Reaction	PX630301050000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Having physical reactions (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating) when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Thoughts	PX630301060000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Avoiding thinking about or talking about a stressful experience from the past or avoiding having feelings related to it?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Activities	PX630301070000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Avoiding activities or situations because they reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Remembering	PX630301080000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Trouble remembering important parts of a stressful experience from the past?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_LossOf_Interest	PX630301090000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Distant	PX630301100000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling distant or cut off from other people?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Emotionally_Numb	PX630301110000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling emotionally numb or being unable to have loving feelings for those close to you?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Future_Short	PX630301120000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling as if your future will somehow be cut short?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Sleeping	PX630301130000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Trouble falling or staying asleep?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Irritable	PX630301140000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Concentrating	PX630301150000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Having difficulty concentrating?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_On_Guard	PX630301160000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Being "super-alert" or watchful or on guard?	4	N/A
PX630301_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Jumpy	PX630301170000	Please read each one carefully then circle one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the past month. Feeling jumpy or easily startled?	4	N/A

The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is a brief, self-administered, widely used measure to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms that demonstrates good psychometric properties. The PCL for DSM-IV provides a quantitative measure of PTSD symptom severity that has been used in foundational research with trauma-exposed populations.

Blanchard, E. B., Jones-Alexander, J., Buckley, T. C., & Forneris, C. A. (1996). Psychometric properties of the PTSD checklist (PCL). Behavioral Research and Therapy, 34, 669-673.

The PTSD Checklist (PCL) for DSM-IV is available for download from the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.

Adult

English

Adults, ages 18 and older

None

None

Standard	Name	ID	Source
Common Data Elements (CDE)	PTSD Self-report Symptom Questionnaire Score	4588679	CDE Browser

Bliese, P. D., Wright, K. M., Adler, A. B., Cabrera, O., Castrol, C. A., & Hoge, C. W. (2008). Validating the primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen and the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist with soldiers returning from combat. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 272-281.

Harrington, T., & Newman, E. (2007). The psychometric utility of two self-report measures of PTSD among women substance users. Addictive Behaviors, 32, 2788-2798.

Monson, C. M., Gradus, J. L., Young-Xu, Y., Schnurr, P. P., Price, J. L., & Schumm, J. A. (2008). Change in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Do clinicians and patients agree? Psychological Assessment, 20, 131-138.

Sherman, J. J., Carlson, C., Wilson, J. F., Okeson, J., & McCubbin, J. A. (2005). Posttraumatic stress disorder among patients with orofacial pain. Journal of Orofacial Pain, 19, 309-317.

Walker, E. A., Newman, E., Dobie, D. J., Ciechanowski, P., & Katon, W. (2002). Validation of the PTSD checklist in an HMO sample of women. General Hospital Psychiatry, 24, 375-380.

Self-administered questionnaire

None

Requirement Category	Required
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No
Major equipment	No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Specialized training	No

This section will be completed when reviewed by an Expert Review Panel.