Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)
The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) is one of the most widely used screens for childhood maltreatment. This free adapted version uses the same five-dimension structure: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect.
Before you start
This questionnaire asks about childhood abuse and neglect, which can bring up difficult memories. Take a break or stop at any time — you do not have to finish. If these topics feel overwhelming, consider talking with someone you trust or a qualified professional. In a crisis, please contact your local emergency or crisis line.
About this adapted questionnaire
The official CTQ was developed by Bernstein and colleagues; the short form (CTQ-SF, 28 items) was described in 2003 and is a copyrighted instrument distributed by Pearson. This page is not the official instrument: it is a free educational adaptation that follows the same five-dimension structure, 5-point frequency scale and severity bands, with items paraphrased in plain language.
Because it is an adaptation, your scores here are not comparable to official CTQ norms and cannot be used for clinical or diagnostic purposes. If you need a formal assessment, please consult a qualified professional who can administer the official instrument.
The five dimensions
Each dimension is measured by five statements and scored from 5 to 25. The dimensions cover both harm that was done to you and care that was missing.
Emotional Abuse
Being verbally mistreated, humiliated, or made to feel worthless by family members.
Physical Abuse
Being hit or physically harmed, or living in fear of physical harm, at home.
Sexual Abuse
Unwanted sexual contact or acts, attempted or committed against your will.
Emotional Neglect
Not getting enough love, closeness, or emotional support from your family.
Physical Neglect
Basic needs — food, clothing, hygiene, medical care, supervision — not being met.
How to read your results
For each of the five dimensions you get a score from 5 to 25, grouped into four severity bands: none/minimal, low, moderate, and severe to extreme. The band boundaries follow cutoffs published in research on the CTQ short form.
The last three statements are positively worded check items adapted from the official minimization/denial scale: if most of your answers there are "very often true", it can suggest a tendency to downplay difficult experiences. A higher score does not invalidate your other answers; it is a prompt for honest reflection.
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Understanding the five dimensions
The CTQ framework distinguishes experiences that were done to a child (abuse) from experiences that were missing for a child (neglect). Both can leave lasting marks, and many people score on more than one dimension.
What the severity bands mean
The four bands — none/minimal, low, moderate, severe — come from research cutoffs on the CTQ short form, not from self-help conventions. They describe how much of each type of experience you reported, not what kind of person you are, and they cannot tell you what happened in your past beyond what you reported here.
Disclaimer
This questionnaire is an educational adaptation for self-reflection only. It is not the official CTQ, it is not a diagnostic tool, and it cannot replace assessment or care from a qualified professional. If you are struggling with the effects of childhood experiences, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)?
The CTQ is a widely used retrospective screen of childhood maltreatment developed by Bernstein and colleagues. The short form (CTQ-SF) has 28 items covering five dimensions: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect, plus a small minimization/denial check.
Is this the official CTQ?
No. The official CTQ is a copyrighted instrument distributed by Pearson. This page is a free educational adaptation: it follows the official structure — five dimensions, a 5-point frequency scale, and published severity bands — but the items are paraphrased in plain language, so your scores are not comparable to official norms.
How is the test scored?
Each statement is rated from "never true" to "very often true". Each dimension's five items are summed to a score from 5 to 25, which falls into one of four severity bands: none/minimal, low, moderate, or severe to extreme. Higher scores mean more of that type of experience was reported.
What do the severity bands mean?
The bands follow cutoffs published in research on the CTQ short form. "Moderate" and "severe" are the levels that research links to meaningful distress. They are screening thresholds, not diagnoses — they describe what you reported, not what is objectively true about your past.
What are the last three statements for?
They are positively worded check items adapted from the official minimization/denial scale. If you answer "very often true" to most of them, it can suggest a tendency to downplay difficult childhood experiences — a gentle prompt for honest reflection, not a judgment.
How is this different from the ACE questionnaire?
The ACE questionnaire counts categories of adverse childhood experiences as yes/no events and gives a score from 0 to 10. The CTQ measures how often different types of maltreatment happened, dimension by dimension, on a 5-point scale. The two are complementary: ACE tells you how many types of events occurred, CTQ shows the severity pattern within each dimension.
Is my result a diagnosis?
No. This adapted questionnaire is for education and self-reflection only. It cannot diagnose any condition and cannot replace professional assessment. If your results concern you, or if childhood experiences still affect your life, please consider talking to a qualified healthcare professional.
Are my answers private?
Yes. The questionnaire runs in your browser and your answers are not stored or sent anywhere. You can retake it or close the page at any time.
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