Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) test

For an individual to be diagnosed with PTSD, that person must experience certain symptoms that impair their daily functioning for at least one month following a traumatic event. These PTSD symptoms may include flashbacks, disturbing thoughts or dreams, avoiding reminders of the event, having difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious or on edge, difficulty controlling anger, negative thoughts or feelings, and a lack of enjoyment of previously pleasurable activities.

Talkspace providers will conduct a PTSD screening to provide a full diagnosis using the criteria in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5.

Several tools are used to assess PTSD, including the Post Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), The PTSD Checklist (PCL), and the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS). A mental health professional can administer assessments and can create a personalized treatment plan to support your mental health goals. In addition to multiscale personality inventories, a mental health professional may use self-report documentation and structured interviews to gather additional data to make a PTSD diagnosis.

Several self-assessments for PTSD can be found online. If you frequently find yourself asking "do I have PTSD," these tests may help you gain awareness of your PTSD symptoms, but only a licensed mental health professional can make a mental health diagnosis.

Share your concerns with a mental health care professional to help them correctly diagnose and develop a trauma treatment plan for you.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric mental health condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The signs of PTSD may be subtle, especially since people can experience PTSD in different ways. Symptoms can range from having angry outbursts, feeling intense fear, or experiencing intrusive thoughts.

Other main symptoms of PTSD include (but aren’t limited to):

• Re-experiencing symptoms: can include flashbacks and tendency to relive a traumatic event, especially through triggers that cause a person to relive distressing memories.
• Avoidance symptoms: seen when someone takes extreme measures, such as taking new routes or avoiding certain people, in an effort to not be reminded of the traumatic experience.
• Hyperarousal symptoms: includes being alert to danger at all times, especially leading to a “fight or flight” response.
• Cognition & mood symptoms: can include symptoms that impact a person's memory and emotions, such as having negative self thoughts or feeling extreme guilt

If you suspect that you or someone you know is struggling with these symptoms, taking our clinically-backed PTSD test acts as a great first step to finding mental health treatment options.

Anyone, at any age, can develop PTSD following a traumatic event, including children, teens, and adults. Those who experience traumatic events involving deliberate harm (such as physical or sexual assault) or have repeated traumatic experiences (such as childhood trauma or domestic violence), may be at greater risk of PTSD.

Additionally, PTSD symptoms may worsen for those struggling with depression or an anxiety disorder, or for someone that doesn't have a supportive environment to help them through treatment. Research also suggests that women are more likely to experience PTSD than men, and combat veterans are at increased risk for military PTSD and other mental health conditions.

There are different types of PTSD that all share similar characteristics, including uncomplicated PTSD, complex PTSD, and comorbid PTSD. However, each type has its own nuances based on an individual's specific symptoms, experiences, and trauma.

Remember that these types of PTSD are treatable, and there are treatment options, including online psychiatry and therapy, available to help you lead a healthier life.

If you're struggling with PTSD, know that coping techniques are available to help reduce your symptoms. Many people have been very successful at managing PTSD when a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and holistic healing methods are used.

For those interested in PTSD treatment, Talkspace offers convenient, affordable, and effective care from licensed professionals. Our online therapists are here to listen and help you develop strategies for dealing with PTSD, while our psychiatric providers can prescribe the right medication (if appropriate) to treat PTSD.

As you take our PTSD test and explore your options, know that Talkspace is committed to making mental health care accessible by offering online therapy and psychiatry plans that take insurance.