The questions in this scale ask you about over the last month, how often you have been bothered by the following problems. In each case, you will be asked to indicate by selecting the answer that correlates to how often you felt or thought a certain way.
Q1. Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience?
Q2. Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience?
Q3. Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)?
Q4. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience?
Q5. Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)?
Q6. Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience?
Q7. Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)?
Q8. Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience?
Q9. Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example, having thoughts such as: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous)?
Q10. Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it?
Q11. Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame?
Q12. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy?
Q13. Feeling distant or cut off from other people?
Q14. Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)?
Q15. Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm?
Q16. Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm?
Q17. Being “superalert” or watchful or on guard?
Q18. Feeling jumpy or easily startled?
Q19. Having difficulty concentrating?
Q20. Irritable behaviour, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively?
Your Score
Scores consist of a total symptom severity score (from 0 to 80) and scores for four subscales:
►Re-experiencing (items 1-5 – max score =20)
►Avoidance (items 6-7 – max score = 8)
►Negative alterations in cognition and mood (items 8-14 – max score = 28)
►Hyper-arousal (items 15-20 – max score = 24)
In addition to a raw score being presented, a “mean score” is also computed, which is the subscale score divided by the number of items. These scores range between 0 to 5, where higher scores represent higher severity. Consistent with the likert scale:
0 = Not at all, 1 = A Little Bit, 2 = Moderately, 3 = Quite A Bit, 4 = Extremely
A provisional PTSD diagnosis can be made by treating each item rated as 2="Moderately" or higher as an endorsed symptom, then following the DSM-5 diagnostic rule which requires at least: 1 B item (questions 1-5), 1 C item (questions 6-7), 2 D items (questions 8-14), 2 E items (questions 15-20).
A cut-off raw score is 38 for a provisional diagnosis of PTSD. This cut-off has high sensitivity (.78) and specificity (.98) (Cohen et al., 2015). If the scale is used to track symptoms over time, a minimum 10 point change represents clinically significant change (as based on the PCL for DSM-IV change scores).
The scores on the following self-assessment do not reflect any particular diagnosis or course of treatment. They are meant as a tool to help assess your level of stress.
If you have any further concerns about your current wellbeing, you may contact us via:
- Phone (852) 2523 8979
- Email resource@counselling.org.hk
- Visit us at 23/F, Li Dong Building, 9 Li Yuen Street East, Central, Hong Kong
- Fill in Enquiry form
and talk confidentially to one of our mental health professionals.
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Your Information
