Acute Stress Checklist (ASC-Kids)

The Acute Stress Checklist for Children (ASC-Kids) - known as the Cuestionario de Estrés Agudo - Niños y Adolescentes (CEA-N) in Spanish - is a brief measure of acute traumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents aged 8 to 17.

Full-length and brief screener versions of the measure are

available and validated in both English and Spanish
designed as self-report checklists -

ASC-Kids full length version

Content: The full length version has 29 items that include

acute traumatic stress symptoms,
impairment from those symptoms, and
associated features such as coping and social support.

Scoring: Item ratings can be summed to derive a symptom severity score, or one can estimate the presence / absence of diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder (ASD) based on item ratings. (Note that formal diagnosis of acute stress disorder requires clinical assessment by a trained mental health professional.)

Time required: Completing the full length measure takes about 5-10 minutes.

ASC-Kids brief screeners

Two brief screening versions are also available, for use in settings where a very quick screen of acute distress is required.

Content: These versions include

3 or 6 items
items reflect core categories of acute stress symptoms

Scoring: Item ratings are summed to derive a screener score - established cutoffs suggest the likelihood that the child has significant acute stress symptoms. Positive screening scores suggest the need for additional evaluation.

Time required: Completing the brief screener takes 1-2 minutes.

How can I use the ASC-Kids measure?

Get a copy of the ASC-Kids measure (full length & screeners / English & Spanish) with scoring information.

ASC-Kids English and Spanish with scoring info - all versions SAMPLE.pdf (563.46 KB)

Please register here to use the ASC-Kids in your setting.

For more information, please contact CPTS.

ASC-Kids References

Kassam-Adams, N. (2006). The Acute Stress Checklist for Children (ASC-Kids): Development of a child self-report measure. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 19: 129-139.

Kassam-Adams, N, Gold, J, Montaño, Z, Kohser, K, Cuadra, A, Muñoz, C, Armstrong, FD. (2013). Development and psychometric evaluation of child acute stress measures in Spanish and English. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(1):19-27.

Kassam-Adams, N & Marsac, ML. (2016). Brief practical screeners in English and Spanish for acute posttraumatic stress symptoms in children. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29 (6):483-490.

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