PC-PTSD-5 Trauma & PTSD Screen
A free, confidential 5-question screen for posttraumatic stress, used in primary care nationwide.
About This Assessment
The PC-PTSD-5 (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5) is a 5-item screen developed for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to identify people whose responses suggest probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Sometimes things happen to people that are unusually or especially frightening, horrible, or traumatic — for example a serious accident or fire, a physical or sexual assault or abuse, an earthquake or flood, a war, seeing someone be killed or seriously injured, or having a loved one die through homicide or suicide. If you have ever experienced an event like this, answer the questions below about how it has affected you. This screen takes about 1 minute.
Instructions: In the past month, have you experienced any of the following? Answer Yes or No.
Your Results
Get Your Personalized Report
Receive a detailed PDF report with your results, grounding techniques, and trauma-informed next steps delivered to your inbox.
Take the Next Step
Our licensed therapists provide trauma-informed care, including EMDR-informed and CBT approaches. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your results.
Book Your Free ConsultationImportant Notice & Disclaimer
Crisis Resources
If you are in crisis, having thoughts of harming yourself, or feeling unsafe right now, please reach out for support:
This screening tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose any mental health condition or replace professional evaluation.
The PC-PTSD-5 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A score of 3 or higher suggests further evaluation is warranted; only a qualified clinician can diagnose PTSD. Discuss your results with a healthcare professional for proper interpretation and guidance.
Completing this assessment does not create a therapeutic or provider-patient relationship with ZipHealthy or its clinicians.
Your responses are processed entirely in your browser. No assessment data is stored on our servers or shared with third parties unless you choose to submit your email for a report.
ZipHealthy assumes no liability for actions taken based on assessment results. Always seek professional guidance for mental health concerns.
About the PC-PTSD-5
The PC-PTSD-5 was developed by Prins and colleagues for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a fast, reliable way to screen for posttraumatic stress in primary-care settings. It asks about five hallmark reactions to trauma — re-experiencing, avoidance, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and guilt or blame — over the past month. In validation studies, a cut-point of 3 balanced sensitivity and specificity for probable PTSD.
How scores are interpreted
Source & license: Prins, A., Bovin, M. J., Smolenski, D. J., et al. (2016). The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5): Development and evaluation within a veteran primary care sample. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(10), 1206–1211. The PC-PTSD-5 is in the public domain (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
When to seek professional help
If trauma reactions are disrupting your sleep, relationships, work, or sense of safety — or if you scored 3 or higher — a trauma-informed evaluation is a strong next step. If your screening results suggest you may benefit from professional support, our licensed therapists serve clients in person in Bentonville and via telehealth throughout Arkansas. Call (479) 259-1390 or book a free 15-minute consultation.
Healing is possible...
Resilience & Recovery Companion Toolkit
Grounding and stabilization skills, trigger-mapping worksheets, window-of-tolerance education, and self-soothing practices for trauma recovery. A companion for the time between now and your first appointment.
Get the Toolkit — $44.99Instant PDF download · Designed by our licensed clinicians
For educational and personal development purposes. Not a substitute for professional therapy.