Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale 47 (RCADS-47)
What it is
The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - 47 (RCADS-47) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. It measures a range of emotional difficulties that align with the diagnostic criteria for disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
The RCADS-47 is widely used in clinical practice, schools, and research to help identify and evaluate emotional challenges in young people. It provides a comprehensive understanding of how anxiety and depression may be affecting a child’s life.
How is it used
The RCADS-47 is suitable for children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years and takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. It asks individuals to reflect on their feelings and behaviors over the past two weeks, providing insights into both anxiety and depressive symptoms.
It is commonly used in therapy, school-based assessments, and mental health clinics to screen for anxiety and depression, guide treatment planning, and monitor progress over time.
What do the scores mean?
The RCADS-47 consists of 47 items, each rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. The items are grouped into six subscales that correspond to specific anxiety and depressive disorders:
- Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Fear of being separated from caregivers or loved ones.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SOC): Intense fear or avoidance of social situations.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about a range of topics or events.
- Panic Disorder (PD): Sudden episodes of intense fear or physical symptoms, like a racing heart.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Repetitive, intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Persistent sadness, fatigue, or loss of interest in activities.
In addition to the subscale scores, the RCADS-47 also provides a Total Anxiety Score, Total Depression Score, and a combined Total Score for anxiety and depression. The RCADS-47 generates T-scores for each subscale and total score, which indicate the severity of symptoms relative to other children of the same age and gender.
- T-scores below 65: Indicate symptoms within the normal range.
- T-scores of 65 to 69: Indicate borderline clinical range—the child may be at risk of significant anxiety or depression.
- T-scores of 70 or higher: Indicate clinical range—the child is likely experiencing significant emotional difficulties that warrant further assessment and intervention.
What does the research say?
The RCADS-47 is backed by extensive research and is widely recognized for its strong reliability (consistent results) and validity (accurately measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression). It is used globally in clinical and research settings and has been adapted into multiple languages.
One of the key strengths of the RCADS-47 is its ability to assess both anxiety and depression, which often co-occur in children. This dual focus ensures a more holistic understanding of a child’s emotional well-being.
Developer
See ChildFirst website https://rcads.ucla.edu/