Detailed scoring information is included with the CAPS 5 and should be reviewed carefully before administering. Briefly, the assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. CAPS 5 total symptom severity score is calculated by summing severity scores for the 2. DSM 5 PTSD symptoms. Similarly, CAPS 5 symptom cluster severity scores are calculated by summing the individual item severity scores for symptoms corresponding to a given DSM 5 cluster Criterion B items 1 5 Criterion C items 6 7 Criterion D items 8 1. Criterion E items 1. A symptom cluster score may also be calculated for dissociation by summing items 1. At least one Criterion B symptom. At least one Criterion C symptom. At least two Criterion D symptoms. At least two Criterion E symptoms. Criterion F is met disturbance has lasted one monthCriterion G is met disturbance causes either clinically significant distress or functional impairment. In the past month, have you had any unwantedmemories of EVENT while you were awake, so not counting dreamsHow does it happen that you start remembering EVENTIf not clear Are these unwanted memories, or are you thinking about EVENT on purposeHow much do these memories bother you Are you able to put them out of your mind and think about something else How often have you had these memories in the past monthSeverity Rating. Absent The respondent denied the problem or the respondents report doesnt fit the DSM 5 symptom criterion. Mild subthreshold The respondent described a problem that is consistent with the symptom criterion but isnt severe enough to be considered clinically significant. The problem doesnt satisfy the DSM 5 symptom criterion and thus doesnt count toward a PTSD diagnosis. Moderate threshold The respondent described a clinically significant problem. The problem satisfies the DSM 5 symptom criterion and thus counts toward a PTSD diagnosis. The problem would be a target for intervention. This rating requires a minimum frequency of 2 x month or some of the time 2. PLUS a minimum intensity of Clearly Present. Severe markedly elevated The respondent described a problem that is above threshold. The problem is difficult to manage and at times overwhelming, and would be a prominent target for intervention. This rating requires a minimum frequency of 2 x week or much of the time 5. PLUS a minimum intensity of Pronounced. Extreme incapacitating The respondent described a dramatic symptom, far above threshold. The problem is pervasive, unmanageable, and overwhelming, and would be a high priority target for intervention. There are three versions of the CAPS 5 corresponding to different time periods past week, past month, and worst month lifetime. The past week version of the CAPS 5 should be used only to evaluate PTSD symptoms over the past week. PTSD diagnostic status should be evaluated with the past month for current PTSD or worst month for lifetime PTSD versions of the CAPS 5. A version for children and adolescents ages 7 and above CAPS CA 5 is also available. The CAPS CA 5 corresponds to DSM 5. Weathers, F. W., Blake, D. D., Schnurr, P. P., Kaloupek, D. G., Marx, B. P., Keane, T. M. 2. 01. 3. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 CAPS 5. Interview available from the National Center for PTSD at www. References CAPS for DSM IV. Blake, D. D., Weathers, F. W., Nagy, L. M., Kaloupek, D. G., Gusman, F. D., Charney, D. S., Keane, T. M. 1. The development of a clinician administered PTSD scale. PDF Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, 7. Gray, M., Litz, B., Hsu, J., Lombardo, T. Psychometric properties of the Life Events Checklist. PDF Assessment, 1. Weathers, F. W., Keane, T. M., Davidson, J. R. Clinician Administered PTSD Scale A review of the first ten years of research. PDF Depression and Anxiety, 1. Weathers, F. W., Ruscio, A. M., Keane, T. M. 1. Psychometric properties of nine scoring rules for the Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale. PDF Psychological Assessment, 1. Additional Reviews CAPS for DSM IV. Orsillo 2. 00. 1 PDF p. Orsillo, Susan M. Measures for acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. In M. M. Antony S. M. Orsillo Eds., Practitioners guide to empirically based measures of anxiety pp. New York Kluwer. AcademicPlenum. PILOTS ID 2. To learn about giving a CAPS 5 assessment, see DSM 5 CAPS 5 Clinician Training Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 CAPS 5 Clinician Training. Technical manuals are available for the CAPS and CAPS CA both are DSM IV versions from Western Psychological Services WPS. Search their online list of available products for CAPS which includes the CAPS CA. Interview booklets, interview guides, and a technical manual are available for both the CAPS and CAPS CA. To Obtain Scale. This measure was created by staff at VAs National Center for PTSD. To obtain this scale complete the online request form. VA Providers and Staff can find information on how to download this instrument here Specifically for VA Providers and Staff. See Assessment measures. Measure availability Information on measures is available to everyone. However, the assessment tools themselves can only be distributed to qualified mental health professionals and researchers. We maintain measures developed by affiliated staff of the National Center for PTSD. Date this content was last updated is at the bottom of the page.