The Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) is a comprehensive self-report questionnaire designed to assess anxiety and depression symptoms in youth. It consists of 47 items that cover various subscales, including separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and low mood (major depressive disorder).
The RCADS also provides a Total Anxiety Scale, which is the sum of the five anxiety subscales, and a Total Internalising Scale, which combines all six subscales. This allows for a comprehensive evaluation of overall anxiety and internalising symptoms in youth.
Additionally, the RCADS has a parent version, known as the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Parent Version (RCADS-P). The RCADS-P assesses parents’ observations and reports of their child’s symptoms of anxiety and depression across the same six subscales.
The RCADS and RCADS-P can be used by young people aged 8 to 18 years and their parents or caregivers, respectively. These scales provide valuable insights into the presence and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms, helping clinicians and researchers assess and monitor the mental health of youth.
DOWNLOADS
Scale
Subscales
- Separation anxiety disorder (Child Self-Reported)
- Separation anxiety disorder (Parent Reported)
- Social phobia (Child Self-Reported)
- Social phobia (Parent Reported)
- Generalised anxiety (Child Self-Reported)
- Generalised anxiety (Parent Reported)
- Panic disorder (Child Self-Reported)
- Panic disorder (Parent Reported)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Child Self-Reported)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Parent Reported)
- Low mood (major depressive disorder; Child Self-Reported)
- Low mood (major depressive disorder; Parent Reported)
Scoring
The RCADS and the RCADS-P can be scored using spreadsheets or syntax available from the developer (link: https://www.childfirst.ucla.edu/resources/).
SIMILAR FREE RESOURCES
Access additional free resources to support children in managing their anxiety at AnxietyHelpBox.com.
