Scale Overview
The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders – Child Version (SCARED) was developed by Boris Birmaher, MD, Suneeta Khetarpal, MD, Marlane Cully, MEd, David Brent, MD, and Sandra McKenzie, PhD (1999). It is designed to measure Child Anxiety. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents (ages 8-18).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 41 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Panic Disorder or Significant Somatic Symptoms, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Significant School Avoidance.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Panic Disorder or Significant Somatic Symptoms |
1,6,9,12,15,18,19,22,24,27,30,34,38 |
13 |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder |
5,7,14,21,23,28,33,35,37 |
9 |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder |
4,8,13,16,20,25,29,31 |
8 |
| Social Anxiety Disorder |
3,10,26,32,39,40,41 |
7 |
| Significant School Avoidance |
2,11,17,36 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not True or Hardly Ever True, 1 = Somewhat True or Sometimes True, 2 = Very True or Often True.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 82. Interpretation guidelines:
- Normal / Low Anxiety: 0 – 24
- May indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder (scores higher than 30 are more specific): 25 – 82
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.