International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)
Cloitre et al. (2018) · 18 items · screens ICD-11 PTSD & complex PTSD
Still haunted by the images and emotions of a traumatic event? The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) follows the WHO ICD-11 framework and screens the core symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) with 18 items — re-experiencing, avoidance, sense of current threat, plus difficulties in affect regulation, self-concept, and relationships. About 5 minutes. A public-domain screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument.
What Is the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)?
The ITQ was developed by Cloitre et al. (2018) as a self-report screen for the core symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as defined in the WHO ICD-11 framework. The measure is in the public domain and free to use.
Six Symptom Clusters
Re-experiencing (2 items): the trauma keeps recurring in dreams, flashbacks, or intrusive memories.
Avoidance (2 items): steering clear of internal and external trauma reminders.
Sense of current threat (2 items): the body stays hypervigilant and easily startled.
Affective dysregulation (2 items): emotions are hard to settle, or the opposite — numbness and shutdown.
Negative self-concept (2 items): persistently feeling like a failure or worthless.
Disturbances in relationships (2 items): feeling distant from people and struggling to stay emotionally close.
The first three clusters form PTSD; the last three (together called DSO, Disturbances in Self-Organization) are the part that distinguishes CPTSD from PTSD. Six additional items assess functional impairment.
How It Is Scored
The ITQ uses an official diagnostic algorithm: PTSD requires all three symptom clusters met plus functional impairment; CPTSD additionally requires all three DSO clusters met plus impairment. Per the developers, cut-off scores are not used — caseness is assessed only via the algorithm. Results are screening-level; a formal diagnosis requires a clinical interview.
This test is for educational self-screening purposes only and is not a diagnostic instrument. If trauma-related difficulties persist, consider professional support.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 18 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.