← Back to Free Tools
Expedition Psychology · Self-assessment

Trauma symptom check (PCL‑5)

Twenty questions about how a very stressful experience has been affecting you over the past month. It takes about five minutes. You will get a total score, a breakdown across the four symptom clusters, and a plain-English note on what the numbers usually mean.


Keeping your worst event in mind, how much were you bothered by each problem in the past month?

Answer for the one event that troubles you most. Go steadily, and stop if you need to — there is no prize for pushing through. Your answers stay on this device.

{{ item.n }}

{{ item.text }}

{{ answeredLabel }}

Your score and cluster breakdown appear here once every question has an answer.

Total score
{{ scoreLabel }}
Symptom load
{{ severityLabel }}
{{ band.range }}
{{ band.name }}

{{ severityMeaning }}

{{ severityGuidance }}

Symptom clusters
{{ c.name }}
{{ c.score }}
{{ c.detail }}

{{ clusterPattern }}

Save or print result Start again
Looking after yourself

Answering questions about a traumatic event can stir things up. If you feel shaken, put the screen down, get your feet on the floor, slow your breathing, and contact someone you trust. If you are struggling badly or having thoughts of harming yourself, talk to someone now: call the Samaritans free on 116 123 (24 hours), contact your GP, or dial 999 in an emergency.