Toronto, ON

Screening Tool: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (in Adults)

This survey is designed to provide a quick assessment of whether you show signs and symptoms of possible PTSD. However, no test is 100% accurate. No matter what your score is, you should seek help if you have any concerns about yourself or your loved ones.

 

The brief, 4-item questionnaire used here is the screen for PTSD in primary care (PC-PTSD). It was developed by the Education Division of the National Center for PTSD, with the help of patients in a U.S. veterans administration primary care clinic.

 

In your life, have you ever had any experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in the past month, you...

1. Have had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did not want to?
2. Tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of it?
3. Were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?
4. Felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your surroundings?

For more information about this survey:

  • Prins, A., Kimerling, R., Cameron, R., Oumiette, P.C., Shaw, J., Thrailkill, A., Sheikh, J. & Gusman, F. (1999). The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD). Paper presented at the 15th annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Miami, FL.
  • National Center for PTSD, http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/disasters/fs_screen_disaster.html