Psychometric Properties of the RCADS-25 in a Large Population-Based Sample of Children and Youth Aged 5-17

Valid and developmentally appropriate screening tools are crucial for the assessment of anxiety and depression in youth. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the caregiver- and youth-report versions of the 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25) in a large, diverse North American sample of children and youth aged 5-17 years (N = 13,708), extending validation to younger children (5-7 years). Across age and respondent, the RCADS-25 demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analyses generally supported a two-factor structure of anxiety and depression, with scalar invariance across age groups but not respondent type. Caregiver- and youth-reported scores showed good convergent and discriminant validity: anxiety and depression scores distinguished relevant mental health disorder diagnostic groups, with acceptable to good receiver operating characteristics. Findings add to the support for the RCADS-25 as a reliable, valid screening tool for anxiety and depression in youth aged 5-17 years.