Symptom Rating Scales Overview
Describe two different symptom rating scales that would be appropriate to use
during the psychiatric assessment of a child/adolescent.
The two symptom rating scales that would be appropriate for use during the psychiatric
assessment of a child/adolescent include the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the
Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). The CBCL helps to assess emotional and behavioral
problems in children (Biederman et al., 2020). This rating scale includes internalizing
problems, externalizing problems, social problems, thought problems, and attention problems
(Biederman et al., 2020).
Symptom Rating Scales Overview
The rating scale can either be completed by a parent or caregiver to
provide an overview of both the behavioral and emotional functioning of a child (Biederman
et al., 2020). The CDI on the other hand aims to assess the symptoms of depression in
children and adolescents (Cumba-Avilés, 2020). The scale contains components such as
negative self-esteem, negative mood, anhedonia, and ineffectiveness (Cumba-Avilés, 2020).
The CDI is a self-report scale and aims to identify depressive symptoms and their severity.
Describe two psychiatric treatment options for children and adolescents that
may not be used when treating adults.
Symptom Rating Scales Overview
There are some psychiatric treatment options that are tailored for use among children and
adolescents and may not be used when treating adults. For example, play therapy is a unique
treatment approach that helps them express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences
(Koukourikos et al., 2021). It includes activities such as using toys, drawing and role-playing.
- Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL):
- The CBCL helps spot emotional and behavioral issues.
- It covers problems like anxiety, anger, and attention.
- Parents or caregivers fill it out, giving a clear view of the child’s behavior.
- This helps identify if the child needs support.
- Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI):
- The CDI focuses on signs of depression.
- It includes feelings like sadness, low self-esteem, and lack of joy.
- This is a self-report scale, meaning the child answers questions about their feelings.
- It highlights how serious the child’s depression may be. APA
