Scales and Measures
The Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) program highlights the valuable role of routine outcome monitoring in clinical practice. Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs) can be used to empower children, young people and families, and to involve them more actively in treatment decisions.
Research evidence suggests that young people value ROMS and that routine outcome measurement can improve the quality of therapy by improving outcomes, reducing dropouts and shorten the overall length of interventions (CAMHS press, 2015, Bickman et al., 2011, Lambert et al., 2005). Nevertheless, it is important that practitioners exercise clinical judgment and adhere to best practice guidelines when utilising ROMs. Specifically, they should:
- Understand measures well and the purpose behind every measurement.
- Explain them clearly and effectively, in a way that CYP understand.
- Offer options, whenever possible, regarding how to complete them (on paper, online, with you, on their own) or which ones to complete.
- Administer, score, and interpret measures sensitively and carefully.
- Recognise and address feedback received consistently.
- Pose questions in their original design. Modifying an outcome measurement questionnaire may compromise it psychometric properties and effectiveness in accurately measuring what intends to.
The scales and metrics outlined on this page are intended to aid clinicians in their practice. Only duly qualified, experienced, and supervised professionals should make use of the resources linked on this page.
Please note that CBT Hub does not host these scales and cannot be held accountable for the accuracy or availability of the linked resources.
Commonly used outcomes measures with CYP
Assessment & Review
| Tool | Description | Age range |
| Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (and Subscales) – RCADS https://www.corc.uk.net/outcome-experience-measures/revised-childrens-anxiety-and-depression-scale-rcads/ | Self-report questionnaire that assesses symptoms of depression and anxiety in children and adolescents. It includes subscales addressing GAD-type symptoms, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, OCD, and depression. | 8-18 |
| Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire – SDQ https://sdqinfo.org | Questionnaire designed to measure different aspects of mental health including problems with emotions, behaviour, relationships, hyperactivity, and concentration. | 3-16 |
| Mood and Feelings Questionnaire – MFQ https://psychiatry.duke.edu/research/research-programs-areas/assessment-intervention/developmental-epidemiology-instruments-0 | Questionnaire designed to assess depression in children and young people. | 6-19 |
Session by session
| Goal or global tracking | ||
| Tool | Description | Age range |
| Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) Child Outcome Rating Scale (CORS) Young Child Outcome Rating Scale (YCORS) | Measures used to monitor CYP and their families’ or carers designed to assess areas of life functioning known to have change as a result of therapeutic intervention. | 13 6-12 <5 |
| Feedback tracking | ||
| Tool | Description and use | Age range |
| Session Rating Scale (SRS) Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS) Young Child Session Rating Scale (YCSRS) Group Session Rating Scale (GDRC) Child Group Session Rating Scale (CGSRS) | Scales designed to evaluate key aspects of effective therapeutic relationships. | 13-18+ 6-12 <5 13-18+ 6–12 |
References:
CAMHS press, 2015. Using CYP IAPT feedback and outcome forms to aid clinical practice. Key messages. ISBN 978-0-9572096-7-1.
Bickman L, Kelley SD, Breda C, de Andrade AR, Riemer M. Effects of routine feedback to clinicians on mental health outcomes of youths: results of a randomized trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Dec;62(12):1423-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.002052011. PMID: 22193788.
Lambert MJ, Harmon C, Slade K, Whipple JL, Hawkins EJ. Providing feedback to psychotherapists on their patients’ progress: clinical results and practice suggestions. J Clin Psychol. 2005 Feb;61(2):165-74. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20113. PMID: 15609358.
Child Outcomes Research Consortium website. https://www.corc.uk.net. Consulted April 2024.