Mental Health: Screening Tools and Rating Scales
To help paediatricians and other child health care providers recognize and diagnose mental health problems, the Canadian Paediatric Society's Mental Health Task Force has compiled a list of screening tools and rating scales for a number of different symptoms and suspected conditions.
Each instrument was rated on a series of criteria including:
- age range to which it applies,
- time required to complete,
- who completes the questionnaire,
- accuracy,
- availability in French,
- cost, and
- whether the tool allows co-morbidities to be identified.
The tool(s) you choose will depend on your clinical setting, your practice support, and the nature of your patients. Some of the tools and scales are also designed to monitor certain conditions. You may view the full list of tools, or search by measure name, age group and/or condition.
All tools have been validated unless otherwise stated.
Several tools not included in the table have been developed to assist clinicians in taking a complete and organized psychosocial and/or mental health history. History-taking tools such as the SSHADESS (HEADDS) assessment tool are not to be used to develop any specific diagnosis, but rather to enhance rapport between the provider and the youth and ensure that the information gathered is relevant and complete. Others resources, like forms in Children with School Problems and the CADDRA Teacher Assessment Form, were developed to help healthcare providers (assessing children with potential mental health or learning problems) gather medical and educational information from parents/caregivers and teachers.
If you have a screening or rating tool that you find particularly useful in your practice, e-mail [email protected]. The CPS Mental Health Task Force will be pleased to review it.
The CPS does not endorse any of these instruments.
Age range:
3 to 11 years
Completed by:
Parent
Time required to complete:
10 minutes
Availability:
Free
References:
Bergman, R. Lindsey, Keller, Melody L., John Piacentini & Andrea J. Bergman (2008) The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Selective Mutism Questionnaire, Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37:2, 456-464, DOI: 10.1080/15374410801955805 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410801955805
Oerbeck, Beate & Overgaard, Kristin & Bergman, Lindsey & Pripp, Are & Kristensen, Hanne. (2020). The Selective Mutism Questionnaire: Data from typically developing children and children with selective mutism. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 25. 135910452091469. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104520914695
Bergman, R. Lindsey, Treatment for Children with Selective Mutism: An Integrative Behavioral Approach , Programs That Work (New York, 2012; online edn, Oxford Academic , 1 Jan. 2015), https://doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780195391527.001.0001
Age range:
12 to 18 years
Completed by:
Self or clinician-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
Additional comments:
Designed to identify substance use, substance-related riding/driving risk, and substance use disorder. Information can serve as the basis for early intervention and patient-centered counseling.
The current version of the tool, the CRAFFT 2.1, includes evidence-based revisions to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the tool and includes vaping as a method of administration for marijuana use.
References:
Knight JR, Sherritt L, Shrier LA, Harris SK, Chang G. Validity of the CRAFFT substance abuse screening test among adolescent clinic patients. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156(6):607-14.
A review of the psychometric properties of the CRAFFT instrument: 1999-2010. Dhalla S 1 Zumbo BD, Poole G, Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 2011, 4(1):57-64.
Knight, JR, Shrier, LA, Bravender, TD, Farrell, M, Vander Bilt, J, Shaffer, HJ. A new brief screen for adolescent substance abuse. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999; 153:591-596.
Age range:
5 to 19 years
Completed by:
Parent
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
Recommended to collect systematic information from the parent about various disorders, including learning, development and personality difficulties.
References:
Weiss MD, McBride NM, Craig S, Jensen P. Conceptual review of measuring functional impairment: findings from the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale. Evid Based Ment Health. 2018;21(4):155-164. doi:10.1136/ebmental-2018-300025.
Age range:
School-aged children and adolescents
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
The MOVES generates scores on five subscales: Motor tics, vocal tics, obsessions, compulsions, and associated symptoms (echolalia, echopraxia, coprolalia, copropraxia).
References:
Gaffney, Gary & SIEG, KARL & HELLINGS, JESSICA. (1994). The MOVES: A self-rating scale for Tourette’s syndrome. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology - J CHILD ADOLESC PSYCHOPHARM. 4. 269-280. 10.1089/cap.1994.4.269.
Age range:
6 to 17 years
Completed by:
Clinician interview
Time required to complete:
20-25 minutes
Availability:
Free
Additional comments:
Assesses the frequency and severity of motor and phonic tics, to establish a baseline measure prior to the implementation of a treatment/ intervention program, as an indicator of change during or following a treatment/intervention program, or as an indicator of treatment/intervention program effectiveness.
References:
Storch, Eric A.,Murphy, Tanya K.,Geffken, Gary R.,Sajid, Muhammad,Allen, Pam,Roberti, Jonathan W.,Goodman, Wayne K. (2005). Reliability and validity of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. Psychological Assessment, 17(4), 486–491.
Age range:
10+
Completed by:
Clinician interview
Time required to complete:
No more than 5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
References:
Lisa Horowitz, Jeffrey A Bridge, Stephen J Teach, Elizabeth D. Ballard. Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) A Brief Instrument for the Pediatric Emergency Department, JAMA Pediatrics, 2012,166(12):1-7.
Age range:
All ages
Completed by:
Clinician interview
Time required to complete:
10-15 minutes
Availability:
Free
Multiple languages (including French) available by request.
Additional comments:
Providers should use the C‐SSRS as a measure of suicidal ideation, intent or plan, and past suicidal behavior.
References:
The Columbia-Suicide severity rating scale: Initial validity and internal consistency findings from three multisite studies with adolescents and adults. POSNER, K., ET AL, 2012, American Journal of Psychiatry. (2011);168(12):1266-1277.
Age range:
Adolescents and young adults
Completed by:
Self or clinician-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Not available in French.
Additional comments:
This screening tool consists of frequency of use questions to categorize substance use by adolescent patients into different risk categories.
References:
Levy, S., Weiss, R., Sherritt, L., Ziemnik, R., Spalding, A., Van Hook, S., & Shrier, L. A. (2014). An electronic screen for triaging adolescent substance use by risk levels. JAMA Pediatrics. 168(9), 822-828.
Age range:
12 to 17 years
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Not available in French.
References:
Kelly SM, Gryczynski J, Mitchell SG, Kirk A, O’Grady KE, Schwartz RP. Validity of brief screening instrument for adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. Pediatrics. 2014;133(5):819-826. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2346.
Age range:
2 to 18 years
Completed by:
Clinician-interview format
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French (not validated)
Additional comments:
BEARS: Bedtime resistance, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings, Regularity, Snoring.
References:
Owens, J.A. et V. Dalzell. « Use of the “BEARS” sleep screening tool in a pediatric residents’ continuity clinic: a pilot study », Sleep Medicine, vol. 6(1), janv. 2005, p. 63-69.
Age range:
11 to 15 years
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French (not validated).
Additional comments:
This survey is designed to provide a quick assessment of whether a child shows signs and symptoms of possible OCD.
References:
Gu, J., Baer, R., Cavanagh, K., Kuyken, W., & Strauss, C. Development and psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Assessment, 2020, 27(1):3-20.
Uher R, Heyman I, Mortimore C, Frampton I and Goodman R (2007). Screening young people for obsessive compulsive disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry (in press).
Age range:
5 to 18 years
Completed by:
Parent or self-report
Time required to complete:
20-30 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
This measure may be used to assess the type and severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in children and adolescents, as a screening measure to identify children and adolescents in need of further intervention, or to monitor improvement in OCD symptoms in children and adolescents following treatment/intervention.
References:
Goodman, W. K., Price, L. H., Rasmussen, S. A., Mazure, C., et al., The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. I. Development, use, and reliability. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1989. 46(11):1006-11.
Age range:
6-12 weeks post-partum
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
Additional comments:
This scale is not intended to provide a diagnosis – only trained health professionals should do this.
References:
Thirty years with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: voices from the past and recommendations for the future. John Cox, The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 214, March 2019, pp. 127-129.
Age range:
Middle- to high school-aged children and adolescents
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5–10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
A standardized, self-report measure of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders. Does not detect binge eating disorder.
References:
The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26): Reliability and Validity in Spanish Female Samples. Teresa Rivas, Rosa Bersabé, Manuel Jiménez, and Carmen Berrocal. The Spanish Journal of Psychology 2010, 13(2):1044-1056.
Garner DM, Garfinkel PE: The Eating Attitudes Test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med. 1979, 9: 273-279.
Age range:
5 to 15 years
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
10-15 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
Additional comments:
A valid clinical screening tool for children who have coordination challenges.
References:
Evaluation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire as a screening instrument. Marina M Schoemaker, Boudien Flapper, Nienke P Verheij, Brenda N Wilson. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Volume 48, 2006:668-673.
Age range:
6-19 years
Completed by:
Parent or self-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages (not validated), but not in French.
Additional comments:
Series of descriptive phrases coded "most of the time/sometimes/not at all" in past two weeks.
References:
Properties of the mood and feelings questionnaire in adolescent psychiatric outpatients: a research note. Wood A, Kroll L, Moore A, Harrington R. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1995;36(2):327-34.
Age range:
6-17 years
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
20-item self-report depression inventory with possible scores ranging from 0 to 60.
References:
Reliability and Validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in a Population-Based Cohort of Middle-Aged U.S. Adults.
Theodore D. Cosco, PhD University of Oxford, United Kingdom Matthew Prina, Brendon Stubbs, Yu-Tzu Wu. Journal of Nursing Measurement, Volume 25(3), 2017.
Morin A.J.S., Moullec G., Maïano C., Layet, L., Just, J.-L., & Ninot G. Psychometric properties of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) in French Clinical and Non-Clinical Adults. Epidemiology and Public Health/Revue d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, 2011.
Age range:
6-24 months
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in French.
Additional comments:
Routine screening to see if a developmental evaluation is needed.
References:
Validation of the Infant-Toddler Checklist as a Broadband Screener for Autism Spectrum Disorders from 9 to 24 Months of Age. Amy Wetherby, Susan Brosnan-Maddox, Vickie Peace, Laura Newton. Autism 12(5):487-511, 2008.
Age range:
16-30 months
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
References:
Validation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Diana L. Robins, Karís Casagrande, Marianne Barton, Chi-Ming A. Chen, Thyde Dumont-Mathieu, and Deborah Fein, Pediatrics. 2014 Jan; 133(1): 37–45.
Age range:
6 to 12 years
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
5 minutes
Availability:
Free
Additional comments:
Psychological assessment tool designed to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms.
This tool assesses the impact of the ADHD symptoms on learning (reading, writing, math).
References:
Psychometric Properties of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale in a Referred Population. Mark L. Wolraich, MD, Warren Lambert, PhD, Melissa A. Doffing, MA, Leonard Bickman, PhD, Tonya Simmons, BS, Kim Worley, MD. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 28(8), 2003:559–568.
Age range:
6 to 17 years
Completed by:
Parent or teacher-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Also available in French.
Additional comments:
Rating scale to assess for the indication of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
References:
Development and applications of the SWAN rating scale for assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a literature review, C. Brites, C.A. Salgado-Azoni,T.L. Ferreira, R.F. Lima,and S.M. Ciasca. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2015 Nov; 48(11): 965–972.
The Reliability and Validity of the English and Spanish Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal Behavior Rating Scales in a Preschool Sample: Continuum Measures of Hyperactivity and Inattention. Kimberley D. Lakes, James M. Swanson, and Matt Riggs. J Atten Disord. 2012 Aug; 16(6): 510–516.
Age range:
5 to 18 years
Completed by:
Parent or teacher-report
Time required to complete:
15 minutes
Availability:
Free
Additional comments:
26-item questionnaire measuring symptoms of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and aggression.
References:
Swanson, JM. SNAP-IV Scale. Irvine, CA: University of California Child Development Center; 1995.
Age range:
8 to 18 years
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages.
Additional comments:
Assesses parent report of youth’s symptoms of anxiety and depression across the same six subscales.
References:
Psychometric evaluation of two short versions of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Leonie Klaufus, Eva Verlinden, Marcel van der Wal, Mia Kösters, Pim Cuijpers & Mai Chinapaw. BMC Psychiatry, volume 20 (47) 2020.
Age range:
8 to 18 years
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages.
Additional comments:
Questionnaire with subscales including: separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and low mood.
References:
Psychometric evaluation of two short versions of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Leonie Klaufus, Eva Verlinden, Marcel van der Wal, Mia Kösters, Pim Cuijpers & Mai Chinapaw. BMC Psychiatry, volume 20 (47) 2020.
Age range:
5 to 18 years
Completed by:
Self, parent or teacher-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Clinicians must register.
Available in French.
Additional comments:
Online adaptation of the SNAP-IV Online Rating Scale and SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale.
References:
Parent and Teacher Ratings of ADHD Symptoms: Psychometric Properties in a Community-Based Sample. George J. DuPaul, Volume 20 (3), 1991:245-253.
Age range:
Ages 1½–5 and 6–18 years
Completed by:
Parent, teacher and patient-report, depending on version
Time required to complete:
10-15 minutes
Availability:
For purchase: preschool and school-age questionnaires
Available in multiple languages.
Additional comments:
The CBCL maps on to domains rather than diagnoses. It is included based on its widespread use in clinical research and its availability in multiple languages. Provides information on general functioning (social skills, family relationships, learning).
References:
Psychometric properties of French-Canadian translation of Achenbach’s Youth Self-Report Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science 35(1):67-71; 2003.
A Psychometric Analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist DSM-Oriented Scales;Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 31(3):178-189;2009.
Achenbach, TM . Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont; 1991.
Age range:
Birth to 8 years
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
N/A
Availability:
For purchase
Permission required to use.
Available in multiple languages, including French.
Additional comments:
Used to screen for developmental delays in children.
References:
PEDS and ASQ Developmental Screening Tests May Not Identify the Same Children. Laura Sices, Terry Stancin, H. Lester Kirchner, and Howard Bauchner.. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct; 124(4): e640–e647.
Age range:
12 years and older
Completed by:
Self-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
For purchase
Additional comments:
Brief survey of six early traumatic experiences (death, divorce, violence, sexual abuse, illness or other), and assesses individual’s understanding of their childhood trauma.
References:
The childhood trauma questionnaire in a community sample: Psychometric properties and normative data, Christine D. Scher, Murray B. Stein, Gordon J. G. Asmundson, Donald R. McCreary, David R. Forde. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2005.
Factor structure and reliability of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in a Canadian undergraduate student sample. Sandra C.Paivio, Kenneth M.Cramer, Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 28(8), 2004:889-904.
Olutayo Aloba, Tolulope Opakunle and Olakunle Ogunrinu, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF): Dimensionality, validity, reliability and gender invariance among Nigerian adolescents, Child Abuse & Neglect, 101, 2020.
Age range:
8-18 years
Completed by:
Self or parent-report
Time required to complete:
10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages, including French.
Additional comments:
Assesses symptoms of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.
References:
Psychometric properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): a replication study. Birmaher B, Brent DA, Chiappetta L, Bridge J, Monga S, Baugher M. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999;38(10):1230-6.
Birmaher, B, Khetarpal, S, Brent, D. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): scale construction and psychometric characteristics. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997; 36:545-553.
Age range:
0-12 years and 13+
Completed by:
5 minutes
Time required to complete:
Parent-report or self-report (teen version)
Availability:
Free
Also available in Spanish and French
Additional comments:
A clinical screening tool that calculates cumulative exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences in patients age 0 to 19.
References:
Burke Harris, N. and Renschler, T. (version 7/2015).
Center for Youth Wellness ACE-Questionnaire (CYW ACE-Q Child, Teen, Teen SR). Center for Youth Wellness. San Francisco, CA.
Age range:
1 month to 5.5 years
Completed by:
Parent-report
Time required to complete:
10-20 minutes
Availability:
For purchase
Available in multiple languages
Additional comments:
These questionnaires assess a child’s global development: gross motor, fine motor, language functions and social-emotional development, adaptive skills.
Screening tool for developmental delay and to identify specific strengths and weaknesses a child may present.
References:
The psychometric properties of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires for ages 2-2.5: a systematic review. Velikonja T, Edbrooke-Childs J, Calderon A, Sleed M, Brown A, Deighton J. Child Care Health Dev. 2017; 43(1):1-17.
Age range:
4 years and older
Completed by:
Parent or self-report
Time required to complete:
5-10 minutes
Availability:
Free
Available in multiple languages
Additional comments:
Brief screening questionnaire used to improve the recognition and treatment of psychosocial problems in children.
References:
The PSC-17: Subscale Scores, Reliability, and Factor Structure in a New National Sample J. Michael Murphy, Paul Bergmann, Cindy Chiang, Raymond Sturner, Barbara Howard, Madelaine R. Abel, Michael Jellinek. PEDIATRICS Volume 138 (3), 2016.
Jellinek, MS, Murphy, JM, Robinson, J, Feins, A, Lamb, S, Fenton, T. Pediatric Symptom Checklist: screening school-age children for psychosocial dysfunction. J Pediatr. 1988; 112:201-209.
Last updated: Oct 3, 2022