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.

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Rating scales are effective because they allow you to:

1. Combine clinical judgment with quantitative and qualitative measures.
2. Gather vital information and personalize treatment plans to meet each patient's specific needs and goals.
3. Keep patients engaged and motivated by showing them their progress through visual means, thus empowering them with a sense of accomplishment.

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In short, the use of rating scales is essential for providing high-quality, personalized care.

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This guide covers a list of mental health rating scales for adults and children, including symptoms associated with:

• Broad global measures

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Disability and Activities of Daily Living

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

• Mood disorders, including bipolar and depression

• Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Psychosis and Schizophrenia

• Substance Abuse

• Trauma/PTSD

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You can find scoring criteria for mental health rating scales included in Osmind here.

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Broad/Quick/Screening/General/Global Rating Scales

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CGI: Clinical Global Impression

‍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.

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Clinical Global Impression (GGI) PDF

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DSM-5 Self-Rated Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure-Adult

A tool in the DSM-5 manual and online at the APA’s website for evaluating symptoms across multiple diagnoses in a comprehensive manner.

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DSM-5 Self-Rated Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure PDF

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Outcome Rating Scale

‍This scale is used to measure the patient's perspective of change or improvement (or lack thereof) in relation to where they started.

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Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) PDF

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PROMIS-SD

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Short Form assesses multiple physical and mental health domains.

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PROMIS Questionnaire PDF

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Session Rating Scale

A tool used to rate the overall quality of a therapeutic session.

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Session Rating Scale PDF

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ADHD Rating Scales

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ASRS v1.1: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist

‍This scale is used to assess the symptoms of adult Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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ASRS PDF

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SNAP-IV 18: SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent 18-Item Rating Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

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SNAP-IV Rating Scale PDF

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VADRS: Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale

This scale is used to assess for ADHD symptoms and their effects on behavior and academic performance in children ages 6-12.

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Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale PDF

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Anxiety Rating Scales

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Beck Anxiety Inventory

A 21-item self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms of anxiety in adults.
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Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) PDF

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GAD-7: General Anxiety Disorder-7

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of generalized anxiety disorder.‍

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GAD 7 PDF

GAD 7 Spanish PDF

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HAM-A: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of anxiety in individuals.

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Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale PDF

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PAS: Panic and Agoraphobia Scale

A self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of panic disorder symptoms, including agoraphobia.

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Panic and Agoraphobia Scale PDF

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SCARED-Child: Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Disorders, Child Version

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of anxiety disorders in children.

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SCARED-Child PDF

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Severity Measure for Panic Disorder

A self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of panic disorder symptoms in adults.

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Severity Measure for Panic Disorder PDF

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SM-GAD: Severity Measure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Adult (SM-GAD)

A self-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in adults.

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SM-GAD PDF

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Depression / Bipolar / Mood Disorders Rating Scales

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ASMR: Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale

Used to measure the severity of mania symptoms in people with bipolar disorder.

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Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale PDF

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BDI-II: Beck Depression Inventory-II

A 21-item self-report questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms of depression.

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Beck Depression Inventory II PDF

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EPDS: Edinburgh Perinatal/Postnatal Depression Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of depression in perinatal and postnatal women.

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Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale PDF

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale PDF in Spanish

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FIBSER: Frequency, Intensity, Burden of Side effects Rating

‍This is a 3-item scale to assess side effects from antidepressant treatment that was used in the STAR*D trial.

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FIBSER PDF

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HAM-D: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

‍A 17-item clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of depression symptoms.

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Hamilton Depression Rating Scale PDF

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MADRS: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale

‍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.

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Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale PDF

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Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)

A self-administered questionnaire used to screen for bipolar disorder.

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Mood Disorder Questionnaire PDF

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Mood Score (1-10 rating)

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of mood symptoms in individuals, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.

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PHQ-4: Patient Health Questionnaire-4

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of depression and anxiety in individuals.‍

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PHQ 4 PDF

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PHQ-8: Patient Healthcare Questionnaire-8

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).

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PHQ-8 PDF

PHQ-8 Spanish PDF

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PHQ-8 vs PHQ-9:

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.

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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.

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PHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire-9T

This scale is used to assess the severity of depression in individuals.

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PHQ-9 PDF

PHQ 9 Spanish PDF

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Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS)

A 16-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of depression symptoms.

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QIDS PDF

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SHAPS: Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale

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.

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Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale PDF

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Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

An 11-item clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of symptoms of mania in patients with bipolar disorder.

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YMRS PDF

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Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Rating Scales

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MSI-BPD: McLean Screening Instrument for BPD

‍This scale is used to assess the presence of symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

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MSI BPD PDF

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ZAN-BPD: Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder

‍This scale is used to assess severity and change in BPD symptoms over time.

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ZAN-BPD PDF

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Disability Rating Scales

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Katz ADL: Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living

‍This scale is used to assess the level of independence in activities of daily living in individuals.

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Katz ADL PDF

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NDI: Neck Disability Index

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of neck pain and disability in individuals.

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Neck Disability Index PDF

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PEG: Pain, Enjoyment, General Activity Scale Assessing Pain Intensity and Interference

This scale is used to assess the severity of pain and its impact on an individual's enjoyment of life and general activities.

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PEG Scale PDF

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SDS: Sheehan Disability Scale

‍The SDS is a brief, 5-item self-report tool that assesses functional impairment in work/school, social life, and family life.

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Sheehan Disability Scale PDF

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Vineland-3: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales

‍This is a scale used to measure adaptive behavior and support the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and developmental delays.

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Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales PDF

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WHODAS 2.0: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0

‍This scale is used to assess the impact of physical and mental health conditions on an individual's daily functioning.‍

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WHODAS 2.0 PDF

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WSAS: Work and Social Adjustment Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the impact of psychiatric symptoms on an individual's work and social functioning.

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WSAS PDF

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Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)  and Altered States of Consciousness Scales

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CADSS-6: Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (6 question version)

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms in individuals.‍

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CADSS: Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale

This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms.

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MOAA/S: Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the level of alertness and sedation of an individual.

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Psychosis and Schizophrenia Disorders Rating Scales

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Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)

A rating scale used to assess the presence and severity of abnormal involuntary movements, commonly associated with antipsychotic medication.

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Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale PDF

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BPRS: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (18-item version)

‍This is a clinician-administered scale designed to assess positive, negative, and affective symptoms of individuals who have psychotic disorders.

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BPRS PDF

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Clinician-Related Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity (CRDPSS)

A rating scale used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms in patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

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CRDPSS PDF

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Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS)

A rating scale used to assess extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), such as muscle rigidity, tremors, and dyskinesia, commonly associated with antipsychotic medication.

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Trauma/PTSD Rating Scales

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ACE: Adverse Childhood Experiences

‍This scale assesses the presence and severity of adverse experiences in a person's childhood, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences PDF

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LEC-5: Life Events Checklist for DSM-5: standard self-report version

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of stressors in an individual's life.

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LEC-5 PDF

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National Stressful Events Survey PTSD Short Scale (NSESSS)

A tool used to screen for symptoms of PTSD in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

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NSESSS PDF

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NIH-HEALS: National Institute of Health - Healing Experience of All Life Stressors

‍This scale is used to assess the impact of life stressors on an individual's physical and mental health.

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NIH-HEALS PDF

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

A tool used to assess symptoms of PTSD according to the DSM-5 criteria.

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PCL-5 PDF

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Resilience Questionnaire

‍This scale is used to assess an individual's level of resilience, or their ability to cope with and adapt to stress and adversity.

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Resilience Questionnaire PDF

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Substance Use Rating Scales

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AUDIT

A screening tool for alcohol-related problems.

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AUDIT PDF

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DAST-10: Drug Abuse Screening Test

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and severity of drug abuse or addiction.‍

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DAST-10 PDF

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CAGE: Questions for Alcohol Use

A four-question screening tool for alcohol use disorders, where each “yes” answer indicates increasing likelihood of problematic drinking.

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CAGE PDF

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CIWA-AR

The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Revised assesses severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

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CIWA-AR PDF

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COWS: The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale

Measures symptoms of opiate withdrawal.

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COWS PDF

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NIDA Drug Use Screening Tool: Quick Screen

A tool used to screen for drug use, including abuse and dependence, in patients.

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NIDA Quick Screen PDF

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Opioid Risk Tool

A tool used to assess the risk of developing opioid use disorder, including abuse and dependence, in patients.

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Opioid Risk Tool PDF

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Rating Scales

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Y-BOCS: Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in individuals.

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Y-BOCS Scoring PDF

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Sleep Disorders Rating Scales

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ESS: Epworth Sleepiness Scale

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of sleepiness or fatigue in individuals.

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Epworth Sleepiness Scale PDF

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Jenkins Sleep Scale

‍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.

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Quality of Life and Meaning in Life Scales

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ISEL: Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, General Population

‍This scale is used to assess the level of perceived social support in individuals.

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ISEL PDF

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MEQ30: Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (30-item version)

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and intensity of mystical experiences in individuals.

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MEQ30 Scoring

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MLQ: Meaning in Life Questionnaire

‍This scale is used to assess the presence and meaning of life in individuals.

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MLQ PDF

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Nature Relatedness Scale

Measures a person's sense of connection to nature and the natural world.

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Nature Relatedness Scale PDF

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Pain Scales

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Pain Score (1-10 rating)

This scale is used to assess the severity of pain in individuals, with higher scores indicating greater severity

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Brief Pain Inventory

A self-administered questionnaire to assess the intensity and impact of pain in patients.

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Brief Pain Inventory PDF

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Suicidal Ideation and Safety Assessment Scales

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C-SSRS: Columbia Suicidality Severity Rating Scale: Screener-Recent-Self-Report

‍This scale is used to assess the severity of suicidality in individuals.

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C SSRS PDF

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CHRT-SR12: The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale

Screens for suicide risk in individuals.

CHRT-SR12 PDF

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LRAMP: Linehan Risk Assessment and Management Protocol

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.

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LRAMP PDF

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Conclusion: How to use rating scales to keep patients engaged and improve outcomes (in less time)

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.

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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.

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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.