Free PTSD Test Online (PC-PTSD-5)

This free PTSD test is the PC-PTSD-5, a five-question screen from the VA's National Center for PTSD. It takes about one minute. A score of 3 or more is a positive screen, meaning a clinician should check for PTSD. It's a screening tool, not a diagnosis.

Up to 6 questions
About 1 minute
Private, nothing saved
Developed by the VA

PC-PTSD-51 of 6

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
having a loved one die through homicide or suicide.

Have you ever experienced this kind of event?

Tip: press 1–2 to answer

Private: scored in your browser. Your answers are never saved or sent.

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Scoring

PC-PTSD-5 score ranges

Each “yes” to the five symptom questions is one point, for a total of 0 to 5. If you haven't experienced a traumatic event, the score is 0.

0–2

Negative screen

Below the cut-point. This screen does not suggest probable PTSD right now.

3–5

Positive screen

At or above the cut-point. A clinician should take a closer look for PTSD.

A positive screen means your symptoms deserve a closer look, not that you have PTSD. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (veterans, press 1), or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Next steps

What happens after the test?

1
Take the free screen
Six yes-or-no questions at most. Your result is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
2
Meet a licensed provider
A 30 to 40 minute video evaluation at a pace you're comfortable with. You don't have to share graphic details.
3
Get a plan that fits
Trauma-focused therapy, medication when clinically appropriate, or both. Prescriptions are never guaranteed.

Licensed in 46 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Insurance accepted, or $150 self-pay.

What Is the PC-PTSD-5 PTSD Test?

This PTSD test is the PC-PTSD-5 (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5), a brief screening questionnaire developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD. It first asks whether you have ever been through a frightening, horrible, or traumatic event. If you have, it asks five yes-or-no questions about the past month — one each about unwanted memories or nightmares, avoidance, feeling on guard, feeling numb or detached, and guilt or blame. It is scored instantly in your browser, and your answers are never stored or sent anywhere.

The PC-PTSD-5 is a public-domain U.S. government instrument, credited to the National Center for PTSD. Source: Prins A, Bovin MJ, Smolenski DJ, et al. The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5). J Gen Intern Med. 2016;31(10):1206-1211. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. View the PC-PTSD-5 at the National Center for PTSD.

How Is the PTSD Test Scored?

Each 'yes' to the five symptom questions counts as one point, for a total of 0 to 5. A score of 3 or more is a positive screen, the cut-point the National Center for PTSD recommends for flagging probable PTSD. A score of 0 to 2 is a negative screen. If you answer 'no' to the first question about traumatic events, the screen total is 0 and the test stops there.

A positive screen means your symptoms deserve a closer look — not that you have PTSD. Trauma symptoms can come with thoughts of self-harm. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the free, 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (veterans can press 1), or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Do I Have PTSD If I Screen Positive?

Not necessarily. A screen is designed to catch people who should be evaluated, so some people who screen positive turn out to have a different condition — or more than one. Depression, anxiety and panic disorder, insomnia, substance use, and ADHD can all cause trouble sleeping, irritability, feeling numb, or feeling on edge. A clinician confirms PTSD with a full interview that looks at your symptoms over time, how much they affect your life, and what else might explain them.

If low mood is part of the picture, you can also take our free depression test. Learn how PTSD symptoms are grouped and treated on our PTSD treatment page.

What Happens After a Positive PTSD Screen?

The usual next step is an online psychiatric evaluation with a licensed psychiatric provider — a psychiatrist (MD/DO), psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. At Anywhere Clinic, the first video visit takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Your provider reviews your symptoms, sleep, history, and safety at a pace you're comfortable with — you don't have to share graphic details — and builds a plan with you. That plan may include trauma-focused therapy, medication when clinically appropriate, or both. Prescriptions are never guaranteed.

We are licensed in 46 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Veterans and service members can learn about our online therapy for veterans, and anyone working through a past trauma can read about online trauma recovery support. For a deeper look at telehealth PTSD care, see virtual PTSD help.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is this PTSD test online free?

Yes. This PTSD test is free, with no sign-up, no email, and no payment. You answer one question about past traumatic events and, if it applies, five yes-or-no questions, then see your PC-PTSD-5 score on the screen. Your answers are scored in your browser and are not stored or sent anywhere.

What is the PC-PTSD-5?

The PC-PTSD-5 (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5) is a short screening questionnaire developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD. It is used in primary care and VA clinics to find people who should be evaluated further for posttraumatic stress disorder.

What score on the PC-PTSD-5 means possible PTSD?

Your score is the number of "yes" answers to the five symptom questions, from 0 to 5. A score of 3 or more is a positive screen, which means a clinician should take a closer look for PTSD. A score of 0 to 2 is a negative screen. If you have not experienced a traumatic event, the score is 0.

Can a PTSD quiz tell me if I have PTSD?

No. A PTSD quiz or test like this one is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A positive screen means your symptoms are worth discussing with a licensed clinician, who can do a full evaluation and check for other conditions that overlap with PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.

What if I screen negative but still feel affected by trauma?

A negative screen does not mean your experience doesn't matter. The PC-PTSD-5 looks for a specific symptom pattern in the past month. If trauma, stress, sleep, or mood are still getting in the way of your life, a psychiatric evaluation or talk therapy can help you sort out what is going on.

What should I do if my PTSD test is positive?

Book an evaluation with a licensed psychiatric provider — a psychiatrist (MD/DO), psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. First visits take about 30 to 40 minutes by video. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 right away, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Next Steps