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Clinical Assessment Library

Find the rightclinical scale

A clinical and academic reference to validated scales · 13 clinical domains · DSM-5 aligned

Commonly used

ADHD ScreeningADHD & Attention
AUDIT ScoringSubstance Use
C-SSRS Scoring Guide · Columbia Suicide Severity Rating ScaleRisk & Safety
CAT-QNeurodivergence & Autism
DASS-21 Scoring & Interpretation · Calculator + Severity BandsDepression & Mood
GAD-7 ScoringAnxiety
MDQ
Mood Disorder QuestionnaireBipolar & Mood
PCL-5
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5-TRTrauma & PTSD
PHQ-9
Patient Health Questionnaire-9Depression & Mood
RAADS-R Scoring & Interpretation · Cutoff ≥65Neurodivergence & Autism

Full library

68 tools

Trauma & PTSD

5

ACE Score

The ACE questionnaire (Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire) is a 10-item yes/no self-report questionnaire that counts categories of abuse, neglect and household dysfunction experienced before age 18. It grew out of the Kaiser-CDC ACE Study.

DES-B Scoring · Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale (8-Item)

The Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-B) is an 8-item self-report measure of how often a person has had dissociative experiences in the past 7 days, such as depersonalization, derealization, memory gaps and absorption. Its DSM-5 version (Severity of Dissociative Symptoms—Adult, by Dalenberg and Carlson) is one of the American Psychiatric Association's emerging measures for adults aged 18 and older. Each item is rated 0 (not at all) to 4 (more than once a day). The 8 items sum to a raw total of 0–32, and the average total score (raw total divided by 8) reads on a 0–4 scale: none (0), mild (1), moderate (2), severe (3) or extreme (4). The DES-B tracks the severity of dissociative symptoms over time; it does not diagnose a dissociative disorder.

Life Events Checklist for DSM-5-TR (LEC-5) and Criterion A

The LEC-5 (Life Events Checklist for DSM-5-TR) is a brief self-report checklist developed by the National Center for PTSD that documents lifetime exposure to potentially traumatic events and the mode of exposure, to identify experiences that may meet DSM-5-TR Criterion A. It does not measure symptoms or severity and is typically administered alongside the PCL-5 or CAPS-5.

PCL-5

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5-TR

The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures the severity of the 20 DSM-5-TR symptoms of PTSD over the past month. Total scores range from 0 to 80; a score of 31–33 or higher indicates probable PTSD.

Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5-TR (PC-PTSD-5)

The PC-PTSD-5 (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5) is a 5-item yes/no screening questionnaire that identifies probable PTSD from symptoms in the past month, designed for primary care and general medical settings (Prins et al., 2016). A score of 3 or more Yes responses is the recommended threshold for a positive screen and a fuller diagnostic evaluation.

ADHD & Attention

6

ADHD Clinical Outcome Scale, Self-Report (ACOS-SR)

The ADHD Clinical Outcome Scale (ACOS) is a 15-item clinician-rated measure developed by Adamis and colleagues (2024) for routine outcome monitoring in adult ADHD clinics; a modified patient-completed version is the self-report form (ACOS-SR). Items are rated on a Likert scale and span four areas: attentional/organizational problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity, comorbidities, and substance use, self-harm, and relationship difficulties. Because it captures typically co-occurring clinical domains rather than DSM symptom counts alone, the ACOS is intended to be administered repeatedly across a course of care to track change. As a recently published scale, it does not yet have established total-score cut-offs.

ADHD Screening

The ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire, developed with the World Health Organization, that screens adults for ADHD by rating the frequency of recent DSM Criterion A symptoms. Its 6-item Part A screener showed 68.7% sensitivity and 99.5% specificity against blind clinical diagnoses (Kessler et al., 2005).

SWAN

Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale

The SWAN (Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale) is an 18-item dimensional rating scale that measures ADHD symptoms against the full range of normal behaviour, rating each DSM symptom from far below to far above average. It is used with children, adolescents and adults in parent, teacher and self-report formats.

Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale · WFIRS-S Scoring

The WFIRS-S (Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale, Self-Report) is a 69-item self-report questionnaire that measures functional impairment in adolescents and adults with ADHD and other psychiatric conditions across six domains: family, work/school, life skills, self-concept, social activities and risky activities. Items are rated 0–3 and scored by domain; parent (WFIRS-P) and teacher versions are also available.

Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-61) Scoring & Interpretation

The WURS-61 (Wender Utah Rating Scale) is a 61-item self-report questionnaire in which adults rate their childhood symptoms (about ages 5–10) to establish the early onset required for an adult ADHD diagnosis. Clinical scoring sums 25 of the items (the WURS-25, 0–100), and a score of 46 or higher is consistent with childhood ADHD (Ward, Wender & Reimherr, 1993).

Wender Utah Rating Scale for ADHD - 25 WURS-25

The WURS-25 (Wender Utah Rating Scale, 25-item) is a 25-item self-report questionnaire in which adults rate their own childhood behaviour to screen retrospectively for childhood ADHD. Items are rated 0–4 for a total of 0–100, and a score of 46 or higher is the validated positive screen (Ward, Wender & Reimherr, 1993); it supports, but does not replace, a full adult ADHD assessment.

Neurodivergence & Autism

5

AQ Scoring & Cutoffs · Autism Spectrum Quotient

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a 50-item self-report questionnaire designed by the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge to quantify the degree to which adults exhibit traits associated with Autism Spectrum Condition. The AQ is not a diagnostic assessment; instead, it provides a structured trait profile across five cognitive–behavioural domains commonly associated with autism: Social Skills, Attention Switching, Attention to Detail, Communication, and Imagination. Scores range from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating more autistic traits. Research suggests that scores 26 or higher reflect elevated autistic characteristics, while 32 or higher aligns with traditional research cutoff values. The AQ is widely used in screening, psychoeducation, research, and clinical triage.

Autism Spectrum Quotient, Brief (AQ-10)

The AQ-10 (Autism Spectrum Quotient, Brief) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire that screens adults for autistic traits, developed as a shortened version of the full 50-item Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Its purpose is rapid identification of individuals who may benefit from a full autism assessment. Each item reflects a high-discriminating question drawn from the original AQ domains: Social Skills, Communication, Attention Switching, Attention to Detail, and Imagination. Scores range from 0–10, with 6 or more recommended by NICE as the threshold for referral for a comprehensive autism assessment. The AQ-10 is not a diagnostic tool but serves as an efficient “red flag” screener suitable for busy clinical environments.

CAST

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test

The CAST (Childhood Autism Spectrum Test) is a 37-item parent-report screening questionnaire for autism spectrum characteristics in children aged 4–11, designed for community and school settings. Scored 0–31; a score ≥15 indicates further evaluation is warranted.

CAT-Q

The CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) is a 25-item self-report questionnaire that measures social camouflaging (masking) behaviours in autistic and non-autistic adults, scored 25–175 with Compensation, Masking and Assimilation subscales. It has no diagnostic cutoffs; high camouflaging is associated with anxiety, exhaustion and autistic burnout.

RAADS-R Scoring & Interpretation · Cutoff ≥65

The RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised) is an 80-item self-report questionnaire that screens for autistic traits across childhood and adulthood in adults with average or above-average intelligence. Totals run 0–240 across four subscales, and a score of 65 or higher (Ritvo et al., 2011) indicates that a full clinical evaluation is warranted; it is not a diagnosis.

Substance Use

10

AUDIT Scoring

The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a 10-item World Health Organization questionnaire that screens for hazardous and harmful alcohol use, developed for primary care. Score 0–40: low risk (0–7), hazardous (8–15), harmful (16–19), possible dependence (≥20); at a cutoff of 8, sensitivity was 92% and specificity 94% in the original validation.

Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST v3.1)

The ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) is a World Health Organization screening questionnaire that identifies substance use and categorizes risk levels across nine substance classes, focusing on use in the past 3 months. Version 3.1 evaluates recent use, cravings, health/social/legal consequences, and prior attempts to control use. The ASSIST provides a standardized Substance Involvement (SI) Score for each substance, allowing clinicians to differentiate low-, moderate-, and high-risk patterns. These SI scores support early detection, brief intervention planning, and referral pathways for specialized care when needed. While widely used in primary care, mental health, and substance-use settings, the ASSIST is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test.

BBGS

Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen

The Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) is a 3-item validated tool designed to identify disordered gambling symptoms in clinical settings.

CRAFFT

Adolescent Substance Use Screening Tool

The CRAFFT (Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble) is a 6-item AAP-recommended screener for alcohol and drug use in adolescents aged 12–21. Score ≥2 is a positive screen for high-risk substance use or a substance use disorder.

EDS

E-Cigarette Dependence Scale

The EDS (E-cigarette Dependence Scale) is a self-report questionnaire of e-cigarette dependence, adapted from the PROMIS Nicotine Dependence item bank and published in 22-, 8- and 4-item versions (Morean et al., 2019). No published severity cutoffs.

Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, Short Form (IGDS9-SF)

The IGDS9-SF (Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, Short Form) is a 9-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of Internet Gaming Disorder symptoms over the past 12 months, based on the DSM-5 criteria. It is widely used to screen for problematic gaming behaviour and support early identification of gaming-related functional impairment.

MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test)

The MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test) is a 25-item weighted yes/no self-report questionnaire that screens for alcohol use disorder across a person's lifetime drinking history. Scores range from 0 to 53; a score of 5 or higher indicates probable alcoholism (Selzer, 1971).

Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ)

The PMQ (Pain Medication Questionnaire) is a 26-item self-report questionnaire that screens for risk of opioid medication misuse in adults with chronic pain, before or during long-term opioid therapy. Higher scores indicate more risk factors; it is a risk screen, not a diagnosis (Adams et al., 2004).

SOGS

South Oaks Gambling Screen

The SOGS (South Oaks Gambling Screen) is a 20-item screening questionnaire for pathological gambling, based on DSM-III criteria and developed by Lesieur & Blume (1987). It can be self-administered or interviewer-administered, and a score of 5 or more indicates probable pathological gambling.

Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substance use Tool (TAPS)

The TAPS Tool (Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use Tool) is a two-part screening and brief assessment tool that identifies unhealthy substance use in adult primary care patients. A 4-item first stage (TAPS-1) asks about past-12-month use of tobacco, alcohol, non-medical prescription medication and other drugs, and a second stage (TAPS-2) gives a 0–3 risk score for each substance used in the past 3 months.

Functional & Quality of Life

8

Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)

The Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) is a comprehensive, 50-item measure designed to evaluate the internal and external resources that support sustained substance-use recovery. Developed by Groshkova, Best, and White (2013), the ARC assesses two broad domains: Personal Recovery Capital and Social Recovery Capital. Together, these domains capture the psychological, physical, interpersonal, and community-level assets shown to protect against relapse and facilitate long-term wellbeing. The ARC provides a detailed profile of strengths and needs across multiple dimensions, making it useful for treatment planning, progress monitoring, and recovery-oriented care. It does not diagnose substance-use disorders, but it offers clinicians a structured, evidence-based framework for understanding the assets that help individuals maintain recovery.

Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10)

The BARC-10 (Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire that measures the internal and external resources that support sustained recovery from alcohol and other drug use. Adapted from the original 50-item Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC), the BARC-10 captures the essential elements of personal growth, social connection, stability, and wellbeing associated with long-term recovery. Unlike deficit-based substance-use tools, the BARC-10 focuses on strengths and protective factors. Its single total score provides a quick overview of how well-resourced an individual is in their recovery journey. It does not diagnose substance-use disorders but offers clinicians a structured way to understand recovery readiness, resilience, and areas where support may be needed.

Devereux Adult Resilience Survey (DARS)

The Devereux Adult Resilience Survey (DARS) is a 36-item self-assessment designed to measure protective factors that support emotional well-being, resilience, and healthy functioning in adults. Developed by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC), the DARS emphasizes strengths rather than symptoms, allowing individuals and clinicians to identify internal and external resources that promote adaptability and recovery. The survey produces a total resilience score along with four domain scores: Internal Beliefs, Relationships, Initiative, and Self-Control. These domains reflect core components of adult resilience within the DCRC’s research-based protective factors framework. The DARS is intended for strengths-based assessment, personal development, coaching, behavioural health, wellness programs, and organizational contexts rather than diagnosis.

IADL

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale

The IADL (Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale) is an 8-item clinician-rated, self-report or informant-report scale that measures functional independence in complex daily activities such as managing finances, medication, transportation, and housekeeping. Originally developed by Lawton & Brody (1969) for older adult populations.

Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, Self Report (IQCODE-SR)

The IQCODE-SR (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, Self Report) is a self-report questionnaire, using the same 16 or 26 items as the informant IQCODE, in which older adults rate their perceived cognitive changes over the past 10 years. Items cover everyday memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and functional abilities. Respondents rate whether each ability has improved, stayed the same, or worsened, producing a mean score between 1.0 and 5.0. Higher scores indicate greater perceived decline. No validated cutoff has been published for the self-report version, and the IQCODE-SR is a screening tool, not a diagnostic assessment.

RTW-SE

Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy Questionnaire

The RTW-SE (Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy Questionnaire) is an 11-item self-report questionnaire that measures a worker's confidence in their ability to return to work while managing health-related symptoms. It is used in occupational rehabilitation and sick-leave management for anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

SWLS Scoring & Interpretation · Satisfaction with Life Scale

The SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale) is a 5-item self-report questionnaire that measures global, cognitive life satisfaction in adults, developed by Diener et al. (1985). Items are rated 1–7 for a total of 5–35, read across seven interpretation bands from extremely dissatisfied to extremely satisfied.

World Health Organization Quality of Life, BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)

The WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life, BREF) is a 26-item self-report questionnaire that measures perceived quality of life over the previous two weeks across four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment. Each domain is scored 0–100, with higher scores meaning better quality of life.

Depression & Mood

6

CES-DC Scoring · Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children

The CES-DC (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children) is a 20-item self-report screener for depressive symptoms over the past week in children and adolescents. Items rated 0–3, total 0–60, positive screen ≥15.

DASS-21 Scoring & Interpretation · Calculator + Severity Bands

The DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that measures the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress over the past week, with three 7-item subscales. Scoring calculator with severity bands; ×2 multiplier applied automatically. Compare with PHQ-9 and GAD-7.

MFQ Scoring · Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (Child & Adolescent)

The MFQ (Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) is a 33-item self- and parent-report questionnaire that measures depressive symptoms in children and adolescents over the past two weeks. Its 13-item short form (SMFQ, 0–26) is drawn from the same items and is the version most used for screening; the long form scores 0–66.

PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15)

The PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15) is a 15-item self-report questionnaire that measures somatic symptom severity in adults over the past four weeks. Scores range from 0 to 30, and it is a severity screener, not a diagnostic test.

PHQ-8

Patient Health Questionnaire, Depression Scale

The PHQ-8 (Patient Health Questionnaire-8) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire that measures depression severity over the past two weeks. It is the PHQ-9 without the suicidality item, used in large surveys and in clinical settings where suicidal ideation is screened separately.

PHQ-9

Patient Health Questionnaire-9

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a 9-item self-report questionnaire that screens for and measures the severity of depression over the past two weeks, scoring each DSM criterion from 0 to 3 for a total of 0–27. A score of 10 or more had 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression in the original validation (Kroenke et al., 2001).

Social & Emotional

3

Empathy Quotient (EQ)

The EQ (Empathy Quotient) is a 60-item self-report questionnaire (40 scored items) developed by Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) that measures empathy as a continuous trait in adults of normal intelligence, capturing both cognitive empathy (understanding others’ thoughts and feelings) and affective empathy (responding emotionally to another’s experience). Designed by the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge. Only 40 items contribute to scoring, yielding a total range of 0–80, with higher scores reflecting stronger empathic tendencies. Although commonly used in autism assessment contexts, the EQ is not diagnostic and should not be used to determine ASD status.

Empathy Quotient, Short Form (EQ-10)

The EQ-10 (Empathy Quotient, Short Form) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire drawn from the Empathy Quotient (EQ) that gives a quick estimate of general empathic tendencies. The parent EQ is the self-report empathy scale developed by Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) at the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. It gives a quick estimate of general empathic tendencies; higher scores indicate greater self-reported empathy. Note that the most extensively validated abbreviated EQ is the 22-item EQ-Short — the EQ-10 trades breadth for speed and is best treated as a rapid indicator rather than a separately validated short form. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not capture the full multidimensional construct of empathy; it suits research, preliminary screening, and time-limited contexts.

Executive Skills Questionnaire-Revised (ESQ-R)

The ESQ-R (Executive Skills Questionnaire-Revised) is a 25-item self-report questionnaire of everyday executive skill difficulties, refined by Strait, Dawson and colleagues (2020) from Dawson and Guare's Executive Skills Questionnaire. Items are rated 0 (never) to 3 (very often), and higher scores mean greater difficulty. It is scored as a profile of five skill areas (plan management, time management, materials organization, emotional regulation and behavioural regulation) plus a total. There are no norms or validated cutoffs. It is not a diagnostic tool; it is used to find relative strengths and weaknesses and to plan and track executive skills support.

Anxiety

4

GAD-7 Scoring

The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) is a 7-item self-report questionnaire that screens for generalized anxiety disorder and rates its severity over the past two weeks. Total 0–21; cutoffs: mild ≥5, moderate ≥10, severe ≥15. Sensitivity 89% at ≥10. Co-administer with PHQ-9 for anxiety and depression screening.

OASIS Scoring · Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale

The OASIS (Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale) is a 5-item self-report questionnaire that measures anxiety severity and related impairment over the past week, across any anxiety disorder. Items are rated 0–4 for a total of 0–20; a total of 8 or more is a positive screen.

SCARED (Child Anxiety Screen)

The SCARED (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders) is a 41-item questionnaire, with parallel child self-report and parent-report forms, that screens for anxiety symptoms over the past three months in children and adolescents aged 8–18. It covers panic/somatic, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety and school avoidance, and a total of 25 or higher indicates a possible anxiety disorder.

SCARED-P

Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, Parent Version

The SCARED-P (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, Parent Version) is a 41-item parent-report questionnaire that screens for anxiety disorder symptoms in children and adolescents as observed by caregivers. It parallels the child self-report SCARED, and the two are used together for multi-informant anxiety assessment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most widely used depression screening tool?

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is the most widely used depression screener in the world. It has been validated in hundreds of studies across primary care, psychiatry, and telehealth settings. The PHQ-9 scores 9 items aligned with DSM-5 depression criteria on a 0–3 scale for a total score of 0–27, with a score of 10 or above indicating clinically significant depression requiring evaluation.

What is the difference between a screener and a full diagnostic assessment?

A screener identifies individuals at risk who warrant further evaluation, which is quick to administer and designed for population-level use. A full diagnostic assessment involves a thorough clinical interview using standardized criteria (e.g., DSM-5 or ICD-11) to establish a full clinical evaluation. Tools like the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PCL-5 are validated screeners; they can support clinical decision-making but are not a substitute for a full clinical evaluation.

Are these clinical assessments validated?

Yes. All assessments in HiBoop's library are evidence-based tools with published psychometric validation studies. Each tool page includes the original validation research, sensitivity/specificity data, and clinical use guidelines.

Which assessment tools are used for PTSD screening?

The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is the criterion standard for PTSD screening. It assesses all 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms across four clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. A total score of 31–33 or above is the provisional cutoff for PTSD. The PC-PTSD-5 is a shorter 5-item screener for primary care settings.

How long does it take to complete a clinical assessment?

Most validated brief screeners take 2 to 5 minutes to complete. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 each run 2 to 3 minutes; the PCL-5 takes 5 to 7 minutes; the AUDIT and DAST run 2 to 4 minutes. Longer multi-domain measures like the Y-BOCS (interview-based for OCD) or the SCID-5 structured diagnostic interview can take 30 to 90 minutes. Patient-completed scales delivered by phone before the session add no clinician time and produce a scored result in the dashboard before the visit begins.

Are mental health screeners free to use?

Many widely used screeners are free to use, but the terms differ. Pfizer states that no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, and the PCL-5 and PC-PTSD-5 are in the public domain (VA National Center for PTSD). Others carry conditions: the WHO's AUDIT and the DAST-10 are free for non-commercial clinical use with credit, and the full ASRS needs a licence from NYU. Scales such as the BDI-II and Conners 3 are sold by their publishers. Each assessment page states its scale's licensing terms; check them before use.

Can patients self-administer clinical assessments?

Yes, most validated screeners are designed for self-administration on paper, web, or mobile. Self-completion is the standard delivery model for PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, AUDIT, DAST, and most brief screeners. Patient-reported scoring is consistent with clinician-administered scoring because the items are written for direct patient response. Clinician-administered scales like the HAM-D, HAM-A, and Y-BOCS exist for specific contexts where structured interview adds diagnostic value, but self-report is the dominant delivery mode in measurement-based care.

How long does it take… · Are mental health screeners free… · Can patients self-administer clinical assessments