Overall total
Seventeen items scored 0–2 give a 0–34 total. A score of 15 or more is the recommended PSC-17 follow-up threshold.
Parent/caregiver clinical screener
Child Mental Health Screen (PSC-17)
A parent or caregiver can check broad emotional, attention, and behavior concerns in a child or teen age 4–17. Your complete basic result is free. This is a screen—not a diagnosis.
What this doesFocused self-checkTimeAbout 3–5 minutesPrivacyNo signupResultFree full result
Free full result17 scored itemsAbout 3–5 minutesAges 4–17No signup
Parent/caregiver completed · no child name requested · full basic result free
Useful before signupSee the complete basic result first.
Established scoringNever = 0 · Sometimes = 1 · Often = 2 · total 0–34
Privacy firstNo child name, email, or free-text story is requested.
Instrument registrySee source, scoring and limitations →What you will do
Rate 17 emotional and behavior signals.
After one non-scored eligibility question, rate each PSC-17 item as Never, Sometimes, or Often based on what best describes your child.
- Overall score: 0–34; 15+ is the recommended PSC-17 follow-up threshold.
- Internalizing subscale: 5+; attention: 7+; externalizing: 7+ are the published subscale thresholds.
- A positive result means more assessment may be useful—not that a specific condition has been diagnosed.
- If you are worried about immediate safety, use urgent local help rather than waiting on an online questionnaire.
What the PSC-17 measures
One overall screen plus three practical subscales.
The PSC-17 is a short version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. It is intended to flag broad psychosocial concerns that may deserve follow-up, not to assign a diagnosis.
Internalizing
Five items cover sadness, hopelessness, self-view, worry, and reduced enjoyment. Published follow-up threshold: 5+.
Attention
Five items cover restlessness, daydreaming, distractibility, concentration, and high activity. Published follow-up threshold: 7+.
Externalizing
Seven items cover rule-following, conflict, empathy, teasing, blame, sharing, and taking things. Published follow-up threshold: 7+.
Not a diagnosis
A score can suggest that fuller evaluation may help, but it cannot say which disorder—if any—is present.
Parent report
This version is completed by a parent or caregiver. It does not replace the child’s own perspective, teacher observations, or professional assessment.
Scoring
How the free result is calculated
Each scored item is rated Never (0), Sometimes (1), or Often (2). The 17 item scores are summed for the overall total, and the three subscales are summed separately.
The overall score, all three subscale scores, thresholds, limitations, and basic next steps are free.
What a professional adds
A score cannot explain why a child is struggling.
A pediatrician or child mental-health professional can consider developmental history, family and school context, sleep, learning, medical issues, trauma, duration, impairment, and information from more than one setting.
What this screen can and cannot tell you
A positive PSC-17 result means “look more closely,” not “your child has a disorder.”
False positives and false negatives occur in screening. A specific concern can still matter even when the overall total is below cutoff, and a positive screen should be interpreted in context.
Production clinical-review and rights gate
This screening implementation should not be treated as a validated clinical or diagnostic tool unless an independent qualified reviewer verifies the exact PSC-17 version, scoring, age positioning, current reproduction terms, privacy flow, child-safeguarding copy, and U.S.-first care guidance.
Sources and instrument governance
Why we use the PSC-17 carefully.
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Pediatric Symptom Checklist forms, scoring and interpretation
- Massachusetts General Hospital — PSC-17 English parent form
Mass General provides the PSC forms, scoring instructions, and free online versions. Because DesperateMinds is a commercial platform, final production launch still requires explicit confirmation that our intended online use is permitted under the current rights terms.
Frequently asked questions
Before you use a child mental-health screen
Does a positive PSC-17 result diagnose ADHD, anxiety, depression, or a behavior disorder?
No. The PSC-17 is a broad psychosocial screen. It can flag areas that deserve a closer look but cannot identify a specific diagnosis by itself.
What if only one subscale is high?
That can still be useful information. A subscale reaching its published threshold can justify discussing that area even when the overall total is below 15.
Should a child complete this version alone?
No. This page implements the parent/caregiver PSC-17. A direct youth self-report requires a separate version and additional youth-safeguarding governance.
i
If you are worried about immediate safety
If a child may be in immediate danger, is talking about suicide or serious self-harm, or cannot be kept safe, use urgent local emergency/crisis support rather than relying on this screen.
What to do after a child mental-health screen
Save the result as a conversation aid, not a label. Write down two or three specific examples of changes in behavior, mood, school performance, sleep or relationships and note where they occur. If possible, compare home observations with school or childcare information.
Persistent concerns can be discussed with a pediatric or primary-care clinician, school professional or qualified mental-health professional depending on the problem. Immediate safety concerns, suicidal behavior or severe deterioration require urgent help.