SCARED: Child Anxiety Screener
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders
About This Screener
The SCARED is a comprehensive screening tool that assesses five different types of anxiety in children and adolescents: panic disorder, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and school avoidance. This can be completed by the child/teen themselves or by a parent about their child.
Instructions
Read each statement carefully and decide how true each statement is for you (or your child). There are no right or wrong answers.
1. When I feel frightened, it is hard to breathe
2. I get headaches when I am at school
3. I don't like to be with people I don't know well
4. I get scared if I sleep away from home
5. I worry about other people liking me
6. When I get frightened, I feel like passing out
7. I am nervous
8. I follow my mother or father wherever they go
9. People tell me that I look nervous
10. I feel nervous with people I don't know well
11. I get stomachaches at school
12. When I get frightened, I feel like I am going crazy
13. I worry about sleeping alone
14. I worry about being as good as other kids
15. When I get frightened, I feel like things are not real
16. I have nightmares about something bad happening to my parents
17. I worry about going to school
18. When I get frightened, my heart beats fast
19. I get shaky when I am frightened
20. I have nightmares about something bad happening to me
21. I worry about things working out for me
22. When I get frightened, I sweat a lot
23. I am a worrier
24. I get really frightened for no reason at all
25. I am afraid to be alone in the house
26. It is hard for me to talk with people I don't know well
27. When I get frightened, I feel like I am choking
28. People tell me that I worry too much
29. I don't like to be away from my family
30. I am afraid of having anxiety (or panic) attacks
31. I worry that something bad might happen to my parents
32. I feel shy with people I don't know well
33. I worry about what is going to happen in the future
34. When I get frightened, I feel sick to my stomach
35. I worry about how well I do things
36. I am scared to go to school
37. I worry about things that have already happened
38. When I get frightened, I feel dizzy
39. I feel nervous when I am with other children or adults and I have to do something while they watch me
40. I feel nervous when I am going to parties, dances, or any place where there will be people that I don't know well
41. I am shy
Attribution & Disclaimer
The SCARED was developed by Boris Birmaher, M.D., Suneeta Khetarpal, M.D., Marlene Brent, M.D., et al. It is freely available for clinical and research use and is widely used to screen for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.
Z Psychology did not create or modify this screener. We are offering it here to support awareness and help families understand when professional evaluation might be beneficial.
This tool is for informational purposes only and does not provide a diagnosis. If you have concerns about anxiety, please consult with a qualified mental health professional.