Protocol - PTSD Symptoms, Self-report - DSM-IV
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
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 Category | Required |
|---|---|
| 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
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|
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 ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Activities | ||||
| PX122001070000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Avoidance_Thoughts | ||||
| PX122001060000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Concentrating | ||||
| PX122001150000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Dreams | ||||
| PX122001020000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Emotionally_Numb | ||||
| PX122001110000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Distant | ||||
| PX122001100000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Feeling_Jumpy | ||||
| PX122001170000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Future_Short | ||||
| PX122001120000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Irritable | ||||
| PX122001140000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_LossOf_Interest | ||||
| PX122001090000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Memories | ||||
| PX122001010000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_On_Guard | ||||
| PX122001160000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Physical_Reaction | ||||
| PX122001050000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Reliving | ||||
| PX122001030000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Remembering | ||||
| PX122001080000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Trouble_Sleeping | ||||
| PX122001130000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
| PX122001_PTSD_Symptoms_Upset | ||||
| PX122001040000 | Please read each one carefully then circle more | N/A | ||
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.