Using the 11-item Version of the RCADS to Identify Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify items from the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale – RCADS-C/P that provided a brief, reliable and valid screen for anxiety and/or depressive disorders in adolescents. In addition, we examined whether adding items assessing suicidal ideation (Moods and Feelings Questionnaire – MFQ- C/P) and symptom impact and duration (items adapted from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – SDQ) improved the identification of adolescents with anxiety and/or depressive disorders. We compared two samples of adolescents and their parents – a community sample, recruited through secondary schools in England (n = 214) and a clinic-referred sample, who met diagnostic criteria for anxiety and/or depressive disorder and were recruited through a university-based research clinic (n = 246). Participants completed the RCADS-C/P with additional symptom impact and duration items, and the MFQ-C/P. Using ROC curve analyses, we identified a set of 11 RCADS-C/P items (6 addressing anxiety and 5 depression symptoms) for adolescent- and parent-report. This set of 11 symptom items achieved sensitivity/specificity values > .75, which were comparable to corresponding values for the RCADS-47-C/P. Combining adolescent and parent-report improved the identification of anxiety/depression in adolescents compared to using adolescent-report alone. Finally, adding two symptom impact items further improved the sensitivity/specificity of the 11 symptom items, whereas adding suicidal ideation items did not. The 11 RCADS items accurately discriminated between the community and clinic-referred sample with anxiety and/or depressive disorders and have the potential to quickly and accurately identify adolescents with these disorders in community settings.

Validation of the Kriol and Belizean English Adaptation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale for Use With Adolescents in Belize

“…Another possible concern is that the DSM-5 was used for the clinical evaluation, but the RCADS version is based on DSM-IV. A recent review of the RCADS as per DSM-5 symptoms identified the anxiety symptoms (31 items) that match the DSM-5 [40]. The subset of anxiety items in our study is within those that have been determined to match the DSM-5.…”

A Compassion-Focused Therapy group for young people who live in foster, adoptive or kinship care: Initial development, reflections, and ways forward

“…It is possible that caregivers were more able to notice ‘external’ changes in behaviours but underestimated more ‘internal’ symptoms in young people (De Los Reyes et al., 2015), such as their thoughts and feelings. However, caregivers rated the more established 47-items version of the RCADS which has been shown to be sensitive to change (Chorpita et al., 2000), whereas young people rated a recently developed 11-items version which has been validated for screening purposes only (Radez et al., 2021). This shorter version was chosen to reduce demands on children with maltreatment histories who often experience cognitive difficulties (Masson et al., 2015) but it may not have been sensitive to the benefits of CFT on mental health.…”

“…Analyses also explored the number of disorder-specific subscales in the RCADS-47 (i.e., separation anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression) with scores that were above the clinical cut-off. Young people completed the child version of the RCADS-11, with a score range of 0–33 and a clinical cut-off of ≥14 (Radez et al., 2021). For both RCADS measures, higher scores reflected greater severity.…”

Understanding unusual sensory experiences: a randomised experimental study of a school‐based intervention for adolescents

“…11-item version of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) (Radez et al, 2021). We used the 11-item version of the RCADS (henceforth referred to as 'RCADS-11'), which consists of six items assessing anxiety and five items assessing depression symptoms in young people.…”