(RADS-2) Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, Second Edition

BY WILLIAM M. REYNOLDS, PHD

This popular self-report inventory is an excellent way to screen for depressive symptoms in adolescents. The second edition offers the following new features:

• Updated norms derived from a large, school-based sample
• Expanded age range (11 to 20 years)
• Four factor-derived subscales reflecting basic domains of adolescent depression
• Standard scores and percentile ranks for total and subscale scores
• Case examples illustrating interpretation
• Carbonless, hand-scorable Test Booklet

Administered in just 5 to 10 minutes, the RADS-2 includes 30 items written at a third-grade reading level and cast in the present tense to elicit current symptom status. These items cover the following dimensions:

• Dysphoric Mood
• Anhedonia/Negative Affect
• Negative Self-Evaluation
• Somatic Complaints

In addition to subscale scores, the RADS-2 yields a total score and empirically derived clinical cutoff scores. These indicate severity of symptoms (normal, mild, moderate, or severe), while item endorsement levels within subscales reflect the nature of an adolescent’s reported symptoms. Six critical items alert clinicians to the possibility that an adolescent may be experiencing a significant level of depression, even though his or her total score is below the clinical cutoff.    

A new Short Form, with just 10 items, provides an even quicker assessment. In just 2 to 3 minutes the Short Form gives you a single score indicating whether or not the respondent requires further evaluation. It also includes one critical item that signals a need for immediate clinical attention.

Restandardized on an ethnically diverse sample of 3,300 adolescents ages 11 to 20, from schools in the U.S. and Canada, the RADS-2 provides T-scores and percentile ranks for the entire group and for subgroups stratified by gender and age (11­–13, 14–16, and 17–20 years).