title: 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.
authors.affiliation: VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Christy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blevins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Weathers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.affiliation: South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult