Clinical Assessment Scales for Mental Health
This document provides an overview of several widely used clinical assessment scales for evaluating depression, post-concussion symptoms, PTSD, and anxiety.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a widely used self-report measure for assessing the severity of depression. It is composed of 21 items intended to assess the intensity of depression in clinical and normal patients. Each item is a list of four statements arranged in increasing severity about a particular symptom of depression. Each of the 21 items is scored on a scale from 0 to 3. This scoring is based on the intensity of the symptoms over the past two weeks, including the day of assessment. The items on the BDI assess symptoms such as mood, pessimism, sense of failure, self-dissatisfaction, guilt, punishment, suicidal ideas, crying, irritability, social withdrawal, body image change, work difficulties, insomnia, fatigue, appetite, weight loss, bodily preoccupation, and loss of libido.
BDI Score Interpretation
1
1-10
Normal ups & downs
2
11-16
Mild symptoms
3
17-20
Borderline depression
4
21-30
Moderate depression
5
31-40
Severe depression
6
40 and above
Extreme depression
The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ)
The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) is designed to assess the severity of post-concussion symptoms following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It uses two primary scoring systems: the RPQ-3 and RPQ-13. The RPQ-3 targets the early symptom cluster, focusing on the first three items of the questionnaire, while the RPQ-13 covers the remaining thirteen items that encompass a broader range of symptoms.
RPQ-3 Evaluates early symptoms including headache, dizziness, and nausea:
  • 0-4: Mild post-concussion symptoms symptoms
  • 4-8: Moderate post-concussion symptoms symptoms
  • 8-12: Severe post-concussion symptoms symptoms
RPQ-13 Assesses broader symptoms including cognitive, sensory, and emotional effects:
  • 0-17: Mild post-concussion symptoms symptoms
  • 18-34: Moderate post-concussion symptoms symptoms
  • 35-52: Severe post-concussion symptoms symptoms
RPQ Score Interpretation
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) score table for civilians typically involves interpreting scores from a specific assessment tool used to measure PTSD symptoms. Common tools include the PCL-5 & PCL-C (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) among others. Here's how these scores are generally interpreted:
PCL-5 & PCL-C Score Interpretation
0-19
0-19: No or minimal PTSD symptoms
20-29
20-29: Mild PTSD symptoms; may warrant further evaluation
30-59
Moderate PTSD symptoms; likely to be considered for a PTSD diagnosis
60+
Severe PTSD symptoms; highly indicative of a PTSD diagnosis
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Assessment
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) score table for civilians typically involves interpreting scores from a specific assessment tool used to measure PTSD symptoms. Common tools include the PCL-5 & PCL-C (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) among others. Here's how these scores are generally interpreted:
PCL-5 & PCL-C Score Interpretation
0-19
0-19: No or minimal PTSD symptoms
20-29
20-29: Mild PTSD symptoms; may warrant further evaluation
30-59
Moderate PTSD symptoms; likely to be considered for a PTSD diagnosis
60+
Severe PTSD symptoms; highly indicative of a PTSD diagnosis
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) evaluates anxiety levels based on clinical questions, quantifies the severity of anxiety syndrome. It consists of 14 indicators, each of which is defined by several symptoms. Each indicator is rated on a 5-point scale from 0 (none) to 4 (severe).
HAM-A Score Interpretation:
0-17
Mild anxiety severity
18-24
Mild to moderate anxiety
25-30
Moderate to severe anxiety
30-70
Severe anxiety
📚 Resources & Guides
⚖️ For Law Firms
🧠 Therapies & Innovations
📚 Patient Support & Services
👥 About Us
  • Meet Our Team (coming soon)
📧 Contact & Support
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Copyright © 2025 NeuroGlympse. All Rights Reserved.