SCARED-C

Overview

The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) is a widely used screening tool designed to evaluate anxiety symptoms in children. It employs both child self-report (SCARED-C) and parent report (SCARED-P) to provide a comprehensive assessment.

SCARED assesses anxiety across five key domains:

Generalized anxiety

Separation anxiety

Social anxiety

Panic or somatic symptoms

School avoidance

This tool is recognized for its efficiency and ease of use, making it valuable in clinical and research settings alike. Despite its robust psychometric properties, discrepancies can sometimes arise between the scores reported by children and those reported by parents. Specifically, parents tend to report fewer anxiety symptoms compared to their children's self-reports.

SCARED helps clinicians and researchers quickly identify potential anxiety-related issues in children, facilitating early intervention and appropriate support. Its dual perspective—from both the child and parent—provides a more comprehensive understanding of the child's anxiety symptoms, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.