Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If you suspect that you might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, complete the following self-test by clicking the "yes or "no" boxes next to each question, print out the test and show the results to your health care professional.

HOW CAN I TELL IF IT'S PTSD?

1. Have you experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event that caused intense fear, helplessness or horror?

Yes   No
2. Do you re-experience the event in at least one of the following ways?

Yes   No
3. Repeated, distressing memories and/or dreams?

Yes   No
4. Acting or feeling as if the event were happening again (flashbacks or a sense of reliving it)?

Yes   No
5. Intense physical and/or emotional distress when you are exposed to things that remind you of the event?

Yes   No

Do you avoid reminders of the event and feel numb, compared to the way you felt before, in three or more of the following ways:



6. Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations about it?

Yes   No
7. Avoiding activities, places, or people who remind you of it?

Yes   No
8. Blanking on important parts of it?

Yes   No
9. Losing interest in significant activities of you life?
Yes   No
10. Feeling detached from other people?

Yes   No
11. Feeling your range of emotions is restricted?

Yes   No
12. Sensing that your future has shrunk (for example, you don't expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span)?

Yes   No

Are you troubled by two or more of the following:

13. Problems sleeping?

Yes   No
14. Irritability or outbursts of anger?

Yes   No
15. Problems concentrating?

Yes   No
16. Feeling "on guard"?

Yes   No
17. An exaggerated startle response?

Yes   No

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Illnesses that sometimes complicate anxiety disorders include depression and substance abuse. With this in mind, please take a minute to answer the following questions.

18. Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

Yes   No

More days than not, do you feel:

19. Sad or depressed?

Yes   No
20. Disinterested in life?

Yes   No
21. Worthless or guilty?

Yes   No

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

22. Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes   No
23. Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes   No
24. Gotten you arrested?

Yes   No
25. Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?
Yes   No