February 8, 2023
Written by
Dr. Carlene MacMillan, MD
As mental health professionals, we need reliable tools to accurately assess and track the severity of our patients' symptoms. That's where rating scales come in. These standardized tools exist for most psychiatric conditions and aid in the implementation of measurement-based care (MBC). MBC involves using objective measures to make informed treatment decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
Rating scales are effective because they allow you to:
In short, the use of rating scales is essential for providing high-quality, personalized care.
The CGI provides an overall clinician-determined summary measure that takes into account all available information, including knowledge of the patient's history, psychosocial circumstances, symptoms, behavior, and the impact of the symptoms on the patient's ability to function.
A tool in the DSM-5 manual and online at the APA’s website for evaluating symptoms across multiple diagnoses in a comprehensive manner.
This scale is used to measure the patient's perspective of change or improvement (or lack thereof) in relation to where they started.
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Short Form assesses multiple physical and mental health domains.
A tool used to rate the overall quality of a therapeutic session.
This scale is used to assess the symptoms of adult Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
This scale is used to assess for ADHD symptoms and their effects on behavior and academic performance in children ages 6-12.
A 21-item self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms of anxiety in adults.
This scale is used to assess the severity of generalized anxiety disorder.
This scale is used to assess the severity of anxiety in individuals.
A self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of panic disorder symptoms, including agoraphobia.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of anxiety disorders in children.
A self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of panic disorder symptoms in adults.
A self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in adults.
Used to measure the severity of mania symptoms in people with bipolar disorder.
A 21-item self-report questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms of depression.
This scale is used to assess the severity of depression in perinatal and postnatal women.
This is a 3-item scale to assess side effects from antidepressant treatment that was used in the STAR*D trial.
A 17-item clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of depression symptoms.
A widely used 10-item assessment tool that measures the severity of symptoms of depression. Often used in clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of antidepressant medications.
A self-administered questionnaire used to screen for bipolar disorder.
This scale is used to assess the severity of mood symptoms in individuals, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of depression and anxiety in individuals.
A self-assessment tool used to screen for depression in adults. It consists of eight questions based on the nine criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
The PHQ-8 is a shorter version of the PHQ-9, which includes an additional question on suicidal ideation. So, it can be used in place of the PHQ-9 in situations where ongoing remote monitoring of suicide risk is not feasible.
The PHQ-8 has been shown to have comparable accuracy to the PHQ-9 in identifying depression, making it a useful tool for screening in clinical settings or research studies where time constraints may be a concern.
This scale is used to assess the severity of depression in individuals.
A 16-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of depression symptoms.
The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale assesses an individual's level of pleasure or enjoyment in life and can assess for the degree of anhedonia someone is experiencing.
An 11-item clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of symptoms of mania in patients with bipolar disorder.
This scale is used to assess the presence of symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
This scale is used to assess severity and change in BPD symptoms over time.
This scale is used to assess the level of independence in activities of daily living in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the severity of neck pain and disability in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the severity of pain and its impact on an individual's enjoyment of life and general activities.
The SDS is a brief, 5-item self-report tool that assesses functional impairment in work/school, social life, and family life.
This is a scale used to measure adaptive behavior and support the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and developmental delays.
This scale is used to assess the impact of physical and mental health conditions on an individual's daily functioning.
This scale is used to assess the impact of psychiatric symptoms on an individual's work and social functioning.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms.
This scale is used to assess the level of alertness and sedation of an individual.
A rating scale used to assess the presence and severity of abnormal involuntary movements, commonly associated with antipsychotic medication.
This is a clinician-administered scale designed to assess positive, negative, and affective symptoms of individuals who have psychotic disorders.
A rating scale used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms in patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
A rating scale used to assess extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), such as muscle rigidity, tremors, and dyskinesia, commonly associated with antipsychotic medication.
This scale assesses the presence and severity of adverse experiences in a person's childhood, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of stressors in an individual's life.
A tool used to screen for symptoms of PTSD in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
This scale is used to assess the impact of life stressors on an individual's physical and mental health.
A tool used to assess symptoms of PTSD according to the DSM-5 criteria.
This scale is used to assess an individual's level of resilience, or their ability to cope with and adapt to stress and adversity.
A screening tool for alcohol-related problems.
This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of drug abuse or addiction.
A four-question screening tool for alcohol use disorders, where each “yes” answer indicates increasing likelihood of problematic drinking.
The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Revised assesses severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Measures symptoms of opiate withdrawal.
A tool used to screen for drug use, including abuse and dependence, in patients.
A tool used to assess the risk of developing opioid use disorder, including abuse and dependence, in patients.
This scale is used to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the severity of sleepiness or fatigue in individuals.
This is a scale used to assess sleep quality in individuals. It is based on a series of questions about sleep patterns, including the length of time it takes to fall asleep, the number of awakenings during the night, and the level of alertness upon waking.
This scale is used to assess the level of perceived social support in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the presence and intensity of mystical experiences in individuals.
This scale is used to assess the presence and meaning of life in individuals.
Measures a person's sense of connection to nature and the natural world.
This scale is used to assess the severity of pain in individuals, with higher scores indicating greater severity
A self-administered questionnaire to assess the intensity and impact of pain in patients.
This scale is used to assess the severity of suicidality in individuals.
Screens for suicide risk in individuals.
The LRAMP is an empirically supported, comprehensive framework used to assess suicide risk and protective factors, and provide a guide for the therapist to consider reasonable options for intervening on suicidal behavior.
Psychiatry will increasingly rely on data-driven insights through measurement-based care (MBC), and many patients find it a valuable addition to their treatment journey.
Osmind lets you send rating scales automatically, and patients can complete them within our secure mobile app. This allows you to visualize your patient’s progress at a glance—like a pulse check for any patient at any given time. You can be notified about patients who haven’t engaged in a while so you can reach out and offer more of a safety net.
To learn how to streamline measurement-based care (MBC) in your practice, feel free to book a demo with us—we’re here to help.
Discover what’s next in mental health care. Join the Psychiatry Tomorrow newsletter.
Join 1000+ clinicians
If you, or someone you know, is in crisis or needs immediate assistance, please call 911 immediately. To talk to someone now, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Osmind Inc. © 2023 All Rights Reserved.