Clinical Assessment Tools Reference
This cheat sheet covers the most commonly tested clinical assessment instruments on licensing exams. Know the purpose, population, format, and key scoring information for each tool.
Depression and Mood Assessments
| Tool | Full Name | Format | Scoring |
|---|
| PHQ-9 | Patient Health Questionnaire-9 | 9 items; self-report; 0 to 3 per item | 0 to 4: minimal; 5 to 9: mild; 10 to 14: moderate; 15 to 19: moderately severe; 20 to 27: severe |
| BDI-II | Beck Depression Inventory-II | 21 items; self-report; 0 to 3 per item | 0 to 13: minimal; 14 to 19: mild; 20 to 28: moderate; 29 to 63: severe |
| Hamilton Rating Scale (HAM-D) | Hamilton Depression Rating Scale | 17 to 21 items; clinician-administered | 0 to 7: normal; 8 to 16: mild; 17 to 23: moderate; 24+: severe |
| Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale | EPDS | 10 items; self-report | Score of 10+ suggests possible postnatal depression; includes question on self-harm |
Anxiety Assessments
| Tool | Full Name | Format | Scoring |
|---|
| GAD-7 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 | 7 items; self-report; 0 to 3 per item | 0 to 4: minimal; 5 to 9: mild; 10 to 14: moderate; 15 to 21: severe |
| BAI | Beck Anxiety Inventory | 21 items; self-report; 0 to 3 per item | 0 to 7: minimal; 8 to 15: mild; 16 to 25: moderate; 26 to 63: severe |
| STAI | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory | 40 items (2 scales of 20); self-report | Separate state and trait anxiety scores; higher scores = greater anxiety |
Trauma Assessments
| Tool | Full Name | Format | Key Information |
|---|
| PCL-5 | PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 | 20 items; self-report; 0 to 4 per item | Score of 31 to 33+ suggests probable PTSD; maps to DSM-5 PTSD criteria clusters |
| ACE | Adverse Childhood Experiences | 10 yes/no questions | Score of 4+ associated with significantly increased health risks; screening tool, not diagnostic |
| CAPS-5 | Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale | 30 items; clinician-administered | Gold standard for PTSD diagnosis; assesses frequency and intensity of each symptom |
Substance Use Assessments
| Tool | Full Name | Format | Key Information |
|---|
| AUDIT | Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test | 10 items; self-report | Score of 8+ suggests hazardous drinking; 20+ suggests possible dependence |
| CAGE | Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener | 4 yes/no questions | 2+ positive answers suggest alcohol problem; brief screening tool |
| DAST-10 | Drug Abuse Screening Test | 10 yes/no items | 1 to 2: low; 3 to 5: moderate; 6 to 8: substantial; 9 to 10: severe |
| SASSI | Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory | 93 items; includes subtle and obvious scales | Identifies high probability of substance use disorder even when client minimizes use |
Suicide Risk Assessment
| Tool/Framework | Description | Key Components |
|---|
| Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) | Structured interview for suicide risk | Assesses suicidal ideation (type, intensity, duration) and behavior (attempts, preparatory acts) |
| SAD PERSONS Scale | Mnemonic for risk factors | Sex (male), Age (older adults, adolescents), Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol/drug use, Rational thinking loss, Social supports lacking, Organized plan, No spouse/partner, Sickness |
| Safety Planning | Collaborative crisis plan | Warning signs, coping strategies, social contacts for distraction, professionals to contact, making environment safe, reasons for living |
Cognitive and Developmental Assessments
| Tool | Full Name | Key Information |
|---|
| MMSE | Mini-Mental State Examination | 30-point screening for cognitive impairment; scores below 24 suggest possible dementia |
| MoCA | Montreal Cognitive Assessment | 30-point screening; more sensitive than MMSE for mild cognitive impairment; score below 26 suggests impairment |
| WAIS-IV | Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale | Full-scale IQ; verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed |
| WISC-V | Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children | Ages 6 to 16; same domains as WAIS; mean 100, SD 15 |
Assessment Concepts for Exams
- Reliability: Consistency of measurement (test-retest, inter-rater, internal consistency/Cronbach's alpha)
- Validity: Does it measure what it claims to? (content, criterion, construct validity)
- Sensitivity: Ability to correctly identify those WITH the condition (true positive rate)
- Specificity: Ability to correctly identify those WITHOUT the condition (true negative rate)
- Norm-referenced: Compares individual to a normative group (e.g., IQ tests)
- Criterion-referenced: Compares performance to a fixed standard (e.g., licensing exams)