Post-traumatic stress disorder self-assessment scale (PCL-C), full name The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (Post-traumatic stress disorder self-assessment scale - Civilian version), is a study of post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States The PTSD symptom assessment tool developed by the National Center for PTSD in 1994. The scale contains 17 entries designed to help people evaluate the presence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The translation of the Chinese version was jointly completed by Professor Jiang Chao, Professor Zhang Jie and the PTSD Research Center in the United States. The translation work was officially released in July 2003.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health problem caused by extreme traumatic events. Traumatic events include but are not limited to war, violence, natural disasters, accidents, domestic abuse, etc. The affected people often experience symptoms such as anxiety, fear, and emotional fluctuations. Symptoms of PTSD usually affect an individual’s daily life, leading to avoidance behavior, excessive alertness, recalling traumatic events, etc.
- Trastic experience: Traumatic memories, dreams or imaginations are constantly replayed, resulting in strong emotional reactions.
- Avoidance: Deliberately avoiding activities, locations or situations related to trauma events, and even avoiding thoughts and feelings related to trauma.
- High alertness: Excessive alertness to the surrounding environment is manifested as sleep problems, irritability, difficulty in concentration, nerve allergy, etc.
Symptoms and Treatment of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD may affect all aspects of daily life and in severe cases may even lead to the loss of work and social functions. Fortunately, PTSD is treatable, and common treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), drug therapy, etc.
PTSD network meme
In recent years, the term ‘PTSD’ has been frequently used on the Internet, especially on young people and social platforms. It is often used to describe some emotional reactions caused by psychological states such as stress and anxiety, and sometimes with jokes and The humorous component. For example, some users may use ‘I’m too PTSD’ to describe their emotional reactions that are anxious or irritable due to some small things. This type of use is very different from the actual clinical definition of PTSD, but it also reflects the popularity of the term ‘PTSD’ in online culture.
Introduction to the PTSD Self-assessment Scale (PCL-C)
The PTSD Self-assessment Scale (PCL-C) is a tool used to assess PTSD symptoms and is particularly useful for evaluating the performance of ordinary people after trauma in a non-war environment. The scale contains 17 questions, covering the core symptom dimensions of PTSD, mainly including the following four factors:
- Awareness and heightening reaction
- Avoidance reaction
- Repeated recurrence of trauma experience
- Response to social function loss
When filling out, subjects need to rate the degree of troubles they have encountered in the past month, ranging from 1 (’not at all’) to 5 (’extreme’). Finally, based on the total score of all questions (17-85 points), we can initially determine whether there are PTSD symptoms. The higher the score, the greater the risk of PTSD.
How to use the PTSD Self-rated Scale (PCL-C)
Through this test, you can self-evaluate the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and see if you may be affected by PTSD. This test is based on the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Self-rated Scale (PCL-C), and has been widely used in clinical treatment and mental health research, with good reliability and validity.
- Test time: About 5 minutes.
- Test Method: Choose the answer to each question based on actual experience in the past month. There are five options for each question, namely 1 (’not at all’), 2 (‘a little bit’), 3 (‘moderate’), 4 (‘average’), 5 (’extreme’) ”).
Please note that the PCL-C scale is only an evaluation tool, and the test results are for reference only and cannot replace formal psychological diagnosis. If you think you may have PTSD, it is recommended to seek help from a professional psychologist for further evaluation and treatment.
Identification and diagnosis of PTSD symptoms
The identification of PTSD symptoms is crucial for timely treatment. If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of PTSD, such as excessive anxiety, avoidance behavior, repeated trauma recurrence, etc., it is very necessary to seek medical treatment in time. In the United States, the PCL-C scale is often used to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment effect of PTSD symptoms, and has become an important tool for clinicians and mental health experts.
Start the test
If you are ready to learn about your PTSD symptoms, click Start for a free online test. This test can help you understand initially whether you are in a high-risk group for PTSD and provide you with a reference for your next move. I wish you a successful test!
