I've been writing lately about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition in which people may have lingering symptoms following exposure to a severe trauma in their past. Such traumatic experiences may include being in a combat situation or physically assaulted, or witnessing some other horrible incident.

The U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) uses a checklist like the one below to screen people for possible PTSD. Other checklists for military personnel, as well as one oriented to specific stressful experiences, are also in use.

The checklist is made up of 17 items. People who have experienced a stressful event should carefully read each problem item and then rate the extent to which they have been bothered by that problem within the past month. Use the following scoring method for your responses:

1  =  Not at all
2  =  A little bit
3  =  Moderately
4  =  Quite a bit
5  =  Extremely

In the past month, how much have you been bothered by:

_____  Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Repeated, disturbing dreams of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Suddenly acting or feeling as if a stressful experience were happening again (as if you were reliving it)?

_____  Feeling very upset when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Having physical reactions (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating) when something reminded you of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Avoiding thinking about or talking about a stressful experience from the past, or avoiding having feelings related to it?

_____  Avoiding activities or situations because they remind you of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Having trouble remembering important parts of a stressful experience from the past?

_____  Losing interest in things that you used to enjoy?

_____  Feeling distant or cut off from other people?

_____  Feeling emotionally numb, or being unable to have loving feelings for those close to you?

_____  Feeling as if your future will somehow be cut short?

_____  Having trouble falling or staying asleep?

_____  Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts?

_____  Having difficulty concentrating?

_____  Being "super alert" or watchful or on guard?

_____  Feeling jumpy or easily startled?

A total score of 50 or greater suggests PTSD. But no matter what your total score is, if you are concerned about your symptoms, you should discuss them with your primary care provider or with a mental health professional.