Check for PTSD or Complex PTSD

Experiencing a traumatic event can leave lasting impacts. This quick PTSD and CPTSD test can help you understand how trauma may be affecting you today.

COULD YOU HAVE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)?

Even though it’s often associated with military veterans, PTSD can affect anyone.

The term “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder” was first used in the 1980s as a term to describe the ongoing stress caused by a “catastrophic event”.[1] The diagnosis was developed due to advocacy for American veterans returning from the Vietnam War, and because of this, PTSD has a very strong association with combat-related traumatic events and war.[2]

Clinical studies have shown that there’s a broad range of responses in how people cope with traumatic events and catastrophic stress, just like there are different types of trauma. Some people may adapt to extreme stressors, while others may experience a range of PTSD symptoms.[1] This is due to a multitude of factors, including some that are outside our control, like our genetics, evolutionary biology, upbringing, environment, and so on.

There is no shame in experiencing PTSD symptoms, regardless of the triggering stress or event. 

Many men struggle to identify the ongoing impact of trauma, especially if they feel pressure to ‘tough it out’. Some commonly recognized causes of PTSD are:

  • Serious car crash
  • House fire
  • Robbery
  • Severe sudden injury or life-threatening illness
  • Physical assaults
  • Sexual assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Industrial or workplace accident
  • Sudden death of a loved one
  • Floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters

In addition to experiencing any of the above directly, witnessing these events can potentially cause PTSD.

COMPLEX POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (CPTSD)

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of PTSD symptoms affecting people who have not experienced a singular catastrophic or traumatic event, but who have endured ongoing, chronic, or long-term trauma or traumatic environments. In 2019, the World Health Organization added the diagnosis of Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) to cover these instances.[3] Some of the situations that might lead to CPTSD are:

  • Long-term childhood abuse, whether physical, emotional, or sexual
  • Severe neglect and abandonment
  • Indoctrination or psychological abuse (eg: residential schools, forced assimilation, growing up in a cult or cult-like environment)
  • Prolonged identity-based harassment, bullying or abuse, particularly as a child
  • Exposure to long-term domestic violence or coercive control
  • Chronic insecurity (eg: homelessness, poverty, displacement as a refugee)

PTSD AND CPTSD ASSESSMENT

Taking the free, anonymous test below can be an important first step in recognizing how past trauma might be affecting your daily life, relationships, and well-being. It screens for both PTSD and CPTSD. It doesn’t provide a formal diagnosis, but tailored feedback will be provided based on your responses. You can also print your results to use as a conversation starter with a therapist or healthcare professional.

Disclaimer

This assessment is based on the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), a psychometrically-validated tool that is used in clinical and research settings to screen for PTSD and CPTSD.  

This assessment tool should not be used on its own for self-diagnosis. You may wish to save or print your results to share with your primary healthcare provider as a way of starting a conversation.

Privacy

This survey is anonymous and does not collect directly identifying information. However, under UBC policies and BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), some demographic data may still be considered personal information.

Responses are securely stored on Canadian servers and used only for research and content development. For questions, contact [email protected].

Contact information for our email newsletter (if you choose to opt-in) and your responses are stored separately. 

See our terms, privacy, and conditions for more information.

References

  1. PTSD History and Overview. Va.gov Veterans Affairs. (2007, January 31). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/history_ptsd.asp
  2. Godvin, M. (2021, November 9). How veterans created PTSD. JSTOR Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/how-veterans-created-ptsd/
  3. World Health Organization. (2022). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (11th ed.). International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision. https://icd.who.int/