Outcome MeasurePTSD

CAPS-5

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5

12 Papers in Blossom

About This Instrument

The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is the updated version of the CAPS interview aligned with the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD. It evaluates 20 symptoms across four clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Each symptom is rated on a single 0–4 severity scale (combining frequency and intensity), producing total scores from 0 to 80. A score of 23 or above is the commonly suggested diagnostic threshold. The CAPS-5 served as the primary endpoint in the MAPS Phase 3 MDMA-assisted therapy trials for PTSD and is widely regarded as the most rigorous clinician-rated measure of PTSD symptom severity. It demonstrates excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90) and is sensitive to treatment effects across diverse trauma populations.

Clinical Thresholds

080
Subthreshold
Score 0–10
Mild
Score 11–22
Moderate
Score 23–34
Severe
Score 35–50
Extreme
Score 51–80

Outcome Data Across Studies

Reported results for CAPS-5 across 1 study with quantitative data.

Outcome data across 1 study arm–timepoint observations
SD
Long-term Follow-Up Outcomes of MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD: A Longitudinal Pooled Analysis of Six Phase 2 Trials
2020Primary
Active placebo (25 mg)(active)121212.03.0—

Papers Using CAPS-5

Open Accessindividual

Inflammatory biomarker outcomes associated with MDMA-assisted therapy: an open-label exploratory study

This open-label exploratory study (n=23) examined inflammatory biomarkers in Veterans with PTSD during MDMA-assisted group therapy and found small changes in interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha and C-reactive protein. Higher baseline inflammation was linked with worse PTSD symptoms, and changes in interleukin-6 were related to symptom improvement.

Published
Journal
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Authors
Kachmarik, J. E., Loftis, J. M., Stauffer, C. S.
Open Accessindividual

Blood biomarker changes and relationships after low dose oral ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This open-label trial (n=25) found that six weeks of low-dose oral ketamine treatment for PTSD was associated with small but significant decreases in both BDNF and VEGF-A blood biomarkers, which were positively correlated with each other, suggesting these two proteins may interact as part of the biological mechanism behind ketamine's effects on PTSD symptoms.

Published
Journal
Psychopharmacology
Authors
Quigley, B. L., Orr, E., Kafka, S., Hajishafiee, M., Bouças, A. P., Wellington, N., Dutton, M., Jones, M., Randall, F., Lagopoulos, J., Can, A. T., Hermens, D. F.
Paywallindividual

Magnesium-ibogaine therapy effects on cortical oscillations and neural complexity in veterans with traumatic brain injury

This analysis of an open-label observational study (n=30) found that magnesium-ibogaine therapy in combat veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) led to slower brain wave patterns and reduced neural complexity on EEG, which correlated with improvements in PTSD, anxiety, and cognitive function at one-month follow-up.

Published
Journal
Nature Mental Health
Authors
Lissemore, J. I., Chaiken, A., Keller, C. J., Williams, N. R., Cherian, K. N., Buchanan, D., Espil, F., Keynan, J. N., Sridhar, M., Rolle, C. E., Saggar, M.
Open Accessindividual

Self-compassion mediates treatment effects in MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

This secondary analysis (n=82) of a Phase III RCT of MDMA-assisted therapy found significant improvements in both uncompassionate self-responding and compassionate self-responding across all six Self-Compassion Scale subscales, most with large effect sizes. Changes in self-compassion fully mediated the reductions in PTSD severity and depressive symptoms observed with MDMA-AT versus placebo plus therapy, though no significant effects were seen for alcohol or substance use outcomes.

Published
Journal
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Authors
Agin-Liebes, G. I., Zeifman, R. J., Mitchell, J.
Open Accessindividual

Effects of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD on self-experience

This re-analysis of an RCT of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD finds that study participants (n=90) had significant improvements in the measures of self-experience (e.g. alexithymia -; the inability to identify & describe emotions experienced by oneself). The change in scores of self-experience correlates with recovery from PTSD.

Published
Journal
PLOS ONE
Authors
van der Kolk, B., Wang, J. B., Yehuda, R., Bedrosian, L., Cooker, A., Harrison, C., Mithoefer, M. C., Emerson, A., Doblin, R., Yazar-Klosinski, B.
Open Accessindividual

Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries

This observational study (n=30) evaluates ibogaine (up to 980mg/70kg) in combination with magnesium (1-2 hours before and 12 hours later) in male Special Operations Forces veterans with predominantly mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The study assessed changes in disability, PTSD, depression, and anxiety immediately and one month after treatment using various scales. Results show significant improvements in functioning and psychological symptoms with no serious adverse events.

Published
Journal
Nature Medicine
Authors
Cherian, K. N., Keynan, J. N., Anker, L., Faerman, A., Brown, R. E., Shamma, A., Keynan, O., Coetzee, J. P., Batail, J. M., Phillips, A., Bassa, N. J., Sahlem, G. L., Inzunza, J., Millar, T., Dickinson, J., Rol, C. E., Keller, J., Adamson, M., Kratter, I. H., Williams, N. R.

Quick Facts

Full Name
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
Domain
PTSD
Papers Indexed
12
Score Range
0–80
Interpretation
Lower = better
Unit
points
Reference
Visit
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