RCADS: Assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms in children and adolescents

Abstract

The current study examines the factorial validity, reliability and normative data of the Spanish version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) (Chorpita, Yim, Moffitt, Umemoto & Francis, 2000) in a sample of school-age children and adolescents. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provide support for a structure of six correlated factors which correspond to the following DSM-IV anxiety and depression disorders: panic disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder. This factor structure was also supported by the reliability analysis (internal consistency). Normative data of the RCADS subscales are provided. The scale is proposed as a very useful self-report instrument for clinical and research applications in children and adolescent assessment settings.