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Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)

Also known as: CAPS-5, CAPS

OriginatorFrank W. Weathers, Brett T. Litz, Terence M. Keane, and colleaguesYear2013Sources2Related methods6

The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is the gold standard structured interview for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Developed by Weathers, Litz, and Keane, the CAPS-5 directly operationalizes DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria and assesses the frequency and intensity of symptoms in the four criterion clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognition-mood changes, and hyperarousal.

Key highlights

  • Gold standard PTSD diagnostic interview with direct alignment to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
  • Separate assessment of symptom frequency and intensity allows nuanced severity estimation
  • Clinician administration permits probing of symptom coherence, context, and alternative explanations
  • Extensive validation across military, veteran, and civilian trauma populations with established diagnostic algorithm

Intuition

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How it works

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When to use it

The CAPS-5 is the gold standard for confirming PTSD diagnosis in research, forensic, and clinical settings. It is ideal for comprehensive diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, and measuring treatment response. The CAPS-5 is the standard outcome measure in PTSD treatment trials. It is less practical for rapid screening (use PCL-5 instead) but essential for diagnosis.

Strengths & limitations

Strengths
  • Gold standard PTSD diagnostic interview with direct alignment to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
  • Separate assessment of symptom frequency and intensity allows nuanced severity estimation
  • Clinician administration permits probing of symptom coherence, context, and alternative explanations
  • Extensive validation across military, veteran, and civilian trauma populations with established diagnostic algorithm
Limitations
  • Requires trained, experienced clinician to administer reliably; training necessary for diagnostic accuracy
  • Time-intensive (45–60 minutes); not practical for high-volume screening
  • Clinician judgment required; interviewer skill and consistency affect reliability

Common pitfalls

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Applications

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Frequently asked

What is the difference between CAPS-5 and PCL-5?

CAPS-5 is a clinician-administered diagnostic interview; PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report screener. CAPS-5 is the gold standard for diagnosis with direct probing of symptoms, context, and impairment. PCL-5 is used for screening; scores >30 warrant CAPS-5 follow-up for diagnosis.

What CAPS-5 score indicates PTSD?

A CAPS-5 total score of 31 or above, combined with Criterion A trauma exposure and functional impairment, indicates probable PTSD diagnosis. However, diagnosis also requires clinical judgment; borderline cases or complex presentations require careful assessment.

How long does CAPS-5 administration take?

CAPS-5 typically takes 45–60 minutes for experienced clinicians. Less experienced clinicians may require longer. Complex or lengthy trauma histories may extend administration time.

Can CAPS-5 distinguish PTSD from other trauma-related conditions?

CAPS-5 assesses PTSD specifically but does not directly assess other trauma-related conditions (acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, complex PTSD). Clinical assessment of symptom pattern, onset timing, and functional impact helps distinguish these.

Sources

  1. 1.
    Weathers, F. W., Blake, D. D., Schnurr, P. P., Kaloupek, D. G., Marx, B. P., & Keane, T. M. (2013). The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). National Center for PTSD.
    https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-int/caps.asp
  2. 2.
    Bovin, M. J., Marx, B. P., Weathers, F. W., Dickstein, B. D., Thompson, K. E., Schnurr, P. P., ... & Keane, T. M. (2008). Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale in combat veterans. Psychological Assessment, 20(1), 22-32.
    https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Psychometric+properties+of+the+PTSD+Checklist+and+Clinician-Administered+PTSD+Scale+in+combat+veterans+Bovin

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ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/clinical-psychology/caps-5-ptsd

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)