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Screening Tools

Last reviewed: July 2026

The following is a list of screening tools for children and adolescents presenting symptoms of various mental disorders. These tools may be used to identify children that may benefit from a diagnostic assessment. Screening tools alone are not enough for diagnosis.

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist is a brief screening questionnaire used by pediatricians and other health professionals to recognize psychosocial problems and improve treatment in children.

Access the Pediatric Symptom Checklist

Screeners Commonly Used in Primary Care Settings

Screening Resources by Category, Acronym, and Full Name
Category Acronym Full Name
Anxiety SCARED-5 5-Item Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders
Anxiety Disorder SCARED Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders
Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Vanderbilt Assessement Scales Vanderbilt Assessement Scales
Autism Screening CAST Childhood Autism Spectrum Test
Autism Screening MCHAT Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
Behavioral SDQ Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
and Translations
Childhood Depression CDRS Children's Depression Rating Scale
Childhood Trauma Assessments ISTSS International Society for Tramautic Stress Studies
Depression SMFQ Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (Depression)
Depression PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire-9
Depression PHQ-A Patient Health Questionnaire-Adolescents
Eating Disorders SCOFF Sick Control One Fat Food
Emotional/Behavioral EMO-I Emotional Outburst Inventory
Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD-7 Severity Measure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Primary Care PTSD Screen-5 Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5
Preschool Anxiety Scale PAS Preschool Anxiety Scale
Psychological Functioning HEADSSS HEADSSS Psychological Assessment
Stress PEARLs Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-events Screener
Substance Use CRAFFT Car Relax Alone Forget Friends Trouble
Suicide Risk BSSA Brief Suicide Safety Assessment
Suicide Risk C-SSRS Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Suicide Risk & Safety SBSP Stanley-Brown Safety Plan Intervention
Suicide Risk & Safety ASQ Ask Suicide-Screening Questions

Screeners Less Commonly Used in Primary Care Settings

Screening Resources by Category, Acronym, and Full Name
Category Acronym Full Name
Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ASRS ADHD Rating Scale
Mania YMRS Young Mania Rating Scale
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder CY-BOCS Children's Yale-Brown OC Scale Self-Report Symptom Checklist
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder CY-BOCS Severity Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Symptom Severity Scale
Psychosis/Schizophrenia PSRS/BNSA/PANSS Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale