Scale-Description

The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Parent Version (RCADS-PV) is an assessment tool designed to measure levels of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents through parental reporting. This scale allows parents to report and evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression they observe in their children, providing valuable insights into the child’s mental health.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data Analysis:
Data Collection: Parents complete the questionnaire by rating the anxiety and depression symptoms they observe in their children.
Score Calculation: Responses are aggregated and scored to produce total scores for various symptoms (e.g., generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression).
Score Analysis: Total scores and subscale scores are used to determine the intensity and type of symptoms the child is experiencing.
Data Usage:
Clinical Evaluation: The RCADS-PV helps clinicians better understand the psychological issues of children and design appropriate intervention strategies.
Research: It is used in research studies to investigate levels of anxiety and depression in children and to develop new interventions or therapeutic approaches.

Purpose

The primary goal of the RCADS-PV is to provide a reliable method for assessing anxiety and depression symptoms in children and adolescents based on parental reports. The tool aims to enhance the understanding of children’s mental health, facilitating improved diagnosis and treatment.

Calibration

The calibration of the RCADS-PV involves validating the scale to ensure its reliability and validity:
Internal Consistency: Assessed using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure that the questionnaire items are well-correlated.
Validity: Includes comparisons with other anxiety and depression scales, as well as clinical assessments, to confirm that the RCADS-PV effectively measures symptoms related to anxiety and depression.

References

Chorpita, B. F., Moffitt, C. E., & Gray, J. S. (2005). Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Parent Version (RCADS-PV): Development and Validation. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34(3), 369-380.
Ebesutani, C., Bernstein, A., Martinez, J., & Chorpita, B. F. (2009). The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Parent Version (RCADS-PV): A Measure of Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47(6), 417-425.
Santucci, L. C., & Zatzick, D. F. (2007). Psychometric Properties of the RCADS-PV in Clinical and Nonclinical Samples. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 21(6), 1007-1023.