A total score (range 17-85) can be obtained by summing the scores from each of the 17 items as part of PTSD Checklist Military (PCLM).

2014-04-01

PCL-M Total score

TBI: Weathers, F., Litz, B., Herman, D., Huska, J., & Keane, T. (October 1993). The PTSD Checklist (PCL): Reliability, Validity, and Diagnostic Utility. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, TX. Public domain available from: www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/assmnts/ptsd_checklist_pcl.html. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp

TBI/TBIACUTE/TBIEPID/TBIMILD/TBIMOD: There are several ways in which to score the PTSD Checklist (PCL). Perhaps the easiest way to score the PCL is to add up all the items for a total severity score. A total score of 44 is considered to be PTSD positive for the general population while a total score of 50 is considered to be PTSD positive in military populations. A second way to score the PCL is to treat ""moderately"" or above (responses 3 through 5) as symptomatic and anything below ""moderately"" (1 and 2) as non-symptomatic. Then use the DSM scoring rules to make a diagnosis. That is: You need an endorsement of at least 1 B item (question #s 1-5) You need an endorsement of at least 3 C items (question #s 6-12) You need an endorsement of at least 2 D items (question #s 13-17) However, please note that it is then possible to get a PTSD diagnosis with a total score of 29, which would be very low. It may therefore be best to use a combination of the two approaches. That is, the requisite number of items within each cluster are met at a 3 or above AND the total score is above the specified cut point.

Mon Aug 19 11:59:57 EDT 2019

NIH/CIT/BRICS

Olga Vovk

olga.vovk@nih.gov

NIH/NINDS

NINDSCDE

NINDSCDE@emmes.com