What it measures
The RCADS measures symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and young people. The full version covers separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and low mood, plus total anxiety and total internalising scores. The 25-item short form gives an anxiety score and a depression score.
Who it’s for
There are self-report versions for young people aged 8 to 18 and parallel versions for parents. It is widely used in CAMHS, Mental Health Support Teams and school-based programmes to screen, plan support and track progress. Use it with trained staff and clear referral routes. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
SAMPLE QUESTION
How often do you worry that something bad will happen?
Never · Sometimes · Often · Always
Paraphrased example for illustration. The official questionnaires are free from UCLA Child FIRST.
How it’s scored
Each item is rated from 0 (never) to 3 (always). Item scores are added for each subscale, then converted to T-scores using tables for the child's school grade and gender. T-scores of 65 or above suggest borderline clinical levels, and 70 or above suggest clinical levels. The free UCLA spreadsheets do the conversion automatically. On the 25-item version, raw scores range from 0 to 45 for anxiety and 0 to 30 for depression.
Validation and source
Bruce Chorpita and colleagues developed the RCADS in 2000, adapting items from the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale. It has been tested in large school and clinic samples, with strong internal consistency for the total anxiety and depression scores, and has been translated into many languages. It is a recommended outcome measure in UK children's mental health services. The UCLA Child FIRST team provides the questionnaires, user guide and scoring spreadsheets free of charge.
WHERE YOUHQ FITS
Validated scales measure. youHQ helps you act on what they show.
The RCADS gives a detailed picture of anxiety and low mood at a point in time. Between assessments, youHQ gives pupils a quick daily check-in on how they're feeling, with an easy way to ask for help, so staff can notice changes early. Use the RCADS for structured screening and outcomes, and youHQ to keep a gentle eye on wellbeing every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RCADS free?
Yes. The questionnaires, user guide and scoring spreadsheets are free to download from the UCLA Child FIRST website.
What is the difference between the RCADS and RCADS-25?
The full RCADS has 47 items and six subscales. The RCADS-25 is a short form with 25 items, giving just an anxiety score and a depression score.
What does a high RCADS score mean?
T-scores of 65 to 69 suggest borderline clinical levels and 70 or above suggest clinical levels. Any high score should be followed up by a qualified professional.