About our mental health tests

MHA Screening is a collection of free, confidential, and scientifically validated mental health screening tools. The resources on this page help explain how each screening tool (test) was developed, which populations it has been validated for, and under which conditions it may be reproduced (if any).

Information about specific tests

Click on the name of a test to learn more, or simply scroll down the page.

For information about mental health testing in general:

Addiction Test: CAGE-AID

The Addiction Test is for people who are concerned about their use of alcohol or drugs. The questions focus on lifetime alcohol and drug use.

The CAGE questionnaire was published in 1974. It was developed to identify addiction to alcohol. CAGE is an acronym for the symptoms targeted by this screening tool: Cutting down; Annoyance by criticism; Guilty feeling; Eye-openers.

The CAGE-AID is a version of the CAGE adapted to apply to drugs other than alcohol. AID stands for “Adapted to include drugs.” The CAGE-AID was published in 1995. It has been validated for both adults and youth between the ages of 12 and 18.

In addition to the 4 CAGE-AID questions, we also ask about which substance(s) or behavior(s) the person is concerned about. This helps with the specificity of our research. It also reflects a growing interest in behavioral addictions.

References

ADHD Test: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1

For people of all ages who have trouble focusing, remembering things, completing tasks, and/or sitting still.

The ASRS v1.1 was published in 2005 and has been widely used ever since. It has been validated for adults as well as adolescents ages 13 and up.

We use v1.1, rather than the newer DSM-5 version, because v1.1 has been evaluated more rigorously for reliability and validity, especially with adolescent populations.

Scoring

In addition to the overall score, there are also two subscales: one for inattention, and another for hyperactivity/impulsivity. The highest possible score on each of these subscales is 9. The subscales are for your information only—they do not indicate a diagnosis of ADHD inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type, or combined type.

References

  • Original source: Kessler, R. C. et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological medicine, 35(2), 245–256. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291704002892
  • Adler, L. A., & Newcorn, J. H. (2011). Administering and evaluating the results of the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) in adolescents. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 72(6), e20. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.10081tx2c
  • Adler, L.A. et al. (2012). Preliminary Examination of the Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale v1.1 Symptom Checklist to Rate Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 22(3), pp. 238-244. http://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2011.0062
  • Green, J.G., et al. (2019). Evidence for the reliability and preliminary validity of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1 (ASRS v1.1) Screener in an adolescent community sample. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 28(1), p. 1751. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1751

Anxiety Test: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)

For people experiencing extreme worry or fear that affects their ability to function day-to-day. The Anxiety Test is also available in Spanish.

The GAD-7 is part of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire (PRIME-MD-PHQ). The PHQ, including the GAD-7, was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues. For research information, contact Dr. Spitzer at [email protected]. PRIME-MD® is a trademark of Pfizer Inc. Copyright© 1999 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission.

All PHQ screeners and translations are downloadable from Pfizer’s website. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute them [source].

References

Bipolar Test: Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)

This instrument was developed by a committee composed of the following individuals:

  • Chairman, Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, MD – University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Joseph R. Calabrese, MD – Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
  • Laurie Flynn – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
  • Paul E. Keck, Jr., MD – University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
  • Lydia Lewis – National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
  • Robert M. Post, MD – National Institute of Mental Health
  • Gary S. Sachs, MD – Harvard University School of Medicine
  • Robert L. Spitzer, MD – Columbia University
  • Janet Williams, DSW – Columbia University
  • John M. Zajecka, MD – Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center.

The MDQ is widely available on the web and is included in the papers cited below. Use requires the permission of the author, who can be contacted at e-mail: [email protected] [source].

References

Depression Test: Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

For people experiencing overwhelming sadness or despair, low energy, or negative self-image. The Depression Test is also available in Spanish.

The PHQ-9 is part of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire (PRIME-MD-PHQ). The PHQ, including the PHQ-9, was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues. For research information, contact Dr. Spitzer at [email protected]. PRIME-MD® is a trademark of Pfizer Inc. Copyright© 1999 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission.

All PHQ screeners and translations are downloadable from Pfizer’s website. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display, or distribute them [source].

References

Postpartum Depression Test (New and Expecting Parents): Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

  • Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., and Sagovsky, R. 1987. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry 150:782-786.
  • K. L. Wisner, B. L. Parry, C. M. Piontek, Postpartum Depression N Engl J Med vol. 347, No 3, July 18, 2002, 194-199

Eating Disorder Test: Stanford-Washington University Eating Disorder Screen (SWED)

  • The Stanford-Washington University Eating Disorder Screen (SWED) is developed by Drs. C. Barr Taylor, Katherine Balantekin, Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, Andrea Kass, Mickey Trockel, and Denise Wilfley and was made possible by grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH081125 and R01 MH100455). Validation research in progress.

Parent Test: Your Child’s Mental Health: Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17)

For parents who are worried that their child’s emotions, attention, or behaviors might be a mental health concern. (For youth who are concerned about their own mental health, the Youth Mental Health Test is also available.)

This version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist was published in 1999 and has been widely used and studied since then.

Interpreting scores

In addition to the Total Score, 3 subscores are calculated using specific questions from the test. It’s possible to score high on one or more subscores while also having a low total score.

  • Total Score:
    Children/teens with scores of 30 or higher usually have significant difficulties in overall psychosocial functioning.
  • Anxiety/Depression Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 5 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with anxiety and/or depression.
  • Attention Problem Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 7 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with attention.
  • Conduct Problem Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 7 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with conduct.

References

Psychosis Test: Prodromal Questionnaire Brief (PQ-B)

PTSD Test: Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5)

Youth Mental Health Test: Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report (PSC-Y)

For young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem. (For parents who are concerned about their child’s mental health, the Parent Test is also available.)

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist was published in 1988 and has been widely used and studied since then.

Interpreting scores

In addition to the Total Score, 3 subscores are calculated using specific questions from the test. It’s possible to score high on one or more subscores while also having a low total score.

  • Total Score:
    Children/teens with scores of 30 or higher usually have significant difficulties in overall psychosocial functioning.
  • Anxiety/Depression Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 5 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with anxiety and/or depression.
  • Attention Problem Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 7 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with attention.
  • Conduct Problem Subscore:
    Children/teens with scores of 7 or higher on this subscale usually have significant difficulty with conduct.

References