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Protocol - PTSD Symptoms, Self-report - DSM-IV

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Description

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.

Specific Instructions

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.

Availability

Available

Protocol

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.

Not at all

A little bit

Moderately

Quite a bit

Extremely

1.

Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

2.

Repeated, disturbing dreams of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

3.

Suddenly acting or feeling as if a stressful experience were happening again (as if you were reliving it)?

1

2

3

4

5

4.

Feeling very upset when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

5.

Having physical reactions (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating) when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

6.

Avoiding thinking about or talking about a stressful experience from the past or avoiding having feelings related to it?

1

2

3

4

5

7.

Avoiding activities or situations because they reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

8.

Trouble remembering important parts of a stressful experience from the past?

1

2

3

4

5

9.

Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?

1

2

3

4

5

10.

Feeling distant or cut off from other people?

1

2

3

4

5

11.

Feeling emotionally numb or being unable to have loving feelings for those close to you?

1

2

3

4

5

12.

Feeling as if your future will somehow be cut short?

1

2

3

4

5

13.

Trouble falling or staying asleep?

1

2

3

4

5

14.

Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts?

1

2

3

4

5

15.

Having difficulty concentrating?

1

2

3

4

5

16.

Being "super-alert" or watchful or on guard?

1

2

3

4

5

17.

Feeling jumpy or easily startled?

1

2

3

4

5

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.

Personnel and Training Required

None

Equipment Needs

None

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Self-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Adult

Participants

Adults, ages 18 and older

Selection Rationale

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.

Language

English

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

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

Protocol Name from Source

PTSD Checklist for DSM-4

Source

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.

General References

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.

Protocol ID

122001

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Activities
PX122001070000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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 p show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Thoughts
PX122001060000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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 show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Concentrating
PX122001150000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Dreams
PX122001020000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Emotionally_Numb
PX122001110000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Distant
PX122001100000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Jumpy
PX122001170000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Future_Short
PX122001120000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Irritable
PX122001140000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_LossOf_Interest
PX122001090000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Memories
PX122001010000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_On_Guard
PX122001160000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Physical_Reaction
PX122001050000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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 rem show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Reliving
PX122001030000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Remembering
PX122001080000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Sleeping
PX122001130000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Upset
PX122001040000 Please read each one carefully then circle more
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? show less
N/A
Psychiatric
Measure Name

PTSD Symptoms, Self-report

Release Date

November 28, 2017

Definition

A questionnaire to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Purpose

This measure can be used to screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and as a quantitative measure of PTSD symptom severity.

Keywords

trauma, potentially traumatic event, stress, stressor, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
122001 PTSD Symptoms, Self-report - DSM-IV
122002 PTSD Symptoms, Self-report - DSM 5
Publications

There are no publications listed for this protocol.