Scale Overview
The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Child version (RCADS-Child) was developed by Bruce F. Chorpita, L. Yim, C. Moffitt, L. A. Umemoto, & S. E. Francis (2000). It is designed to measure Anxiety and Depression. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents aged 8-18.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 47 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder |
5,9,17,18,33,45,46 |
7 |
| Social Phobia |
4,7,8,12,20,30,32,38,43 |
9 |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder |
1,13,22,27,35,37 |
6 |
| Panic Disorder |
3,14,24,26,28,34,36,39,41 |
9 |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder |
10,16,23,31,42,44 |
6 |
| Major Depressive Disorder |
2,6,11,15,19,21,25,29,40,47 |
10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 1 = Sometimes, 2 = Often, 3 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 141. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score (Interpret using age/gender percentile norms): 0 – 141
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good structural validity and reliability.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.