The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5): Development and Initial Psychometric Evaluation

Abstract

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) is a widely used DSM‐correspondent self‐report measure of PTSD symptoms. The PCL was recently revised to reflect DSM‐5 changes to the PTSD criteria. In this article, the authors describe the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the PCL for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5). Psychometric properties of the PCL‐5 were examined in 2 studies involving trauma‐exposed college students. In Study 1 (N = 278), PCL‐5 scores exhibited strong internal consistency (α = .94), test‐retest reliability (r = .82), and convergent (rs = .74 to .85) and discriminant (rs = .31 to .60) validity. In addition, confirmatory factor analyses indicated adequate fit with the DSM‐5 4‐factor model, χ²(164) = 455.83, p < .001, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = .07, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = .08, comparative fit index (CFI) = .86, and Tucker‐Lewis index (TLI) = .84, and superior fit with recently proposed 6‐factor, χ² (164) = 318.37, p < .001, SRMR = .05, RMSEA = .06, CFI = .92, and TLI = .90, and 7‐factor, χ² (164) = 291.32, p < .001, SRMR = .05, RMSEA = .06, CFI = .93, and TLI = .91, models. In Study 2 (N = 558), PCL‐5 scores demonstrated similarly strong reliability and validity. Overall, results indicate that the PCL‐5 is a psychometrically sound measure of PTSD symptoms. Implications for use of the PCL‐5 in a variety of assessment contexts are discussed.