.png)
The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, Child/Adolescent Version (CAPS-CA-5) is a 30-item clinician-administered interview for children and adolescents aged 7 years and older. It uses standardised questions based on DSM-5 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criteria, with age-appropriate wording and optional picture response choices.
CAPS-CA-5 is an in-depth interview about PTSD symptoms and their impact. It is not a brief screening questionnaire, cognitive test or treatment. A child psychologist may use it as one source of information within a broader trauma and mental health assessment. It is not intended to evaluate the DSM-5 preschool PTSD subtype for children aged 6 years and younger.
The interview examines the 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and asks about areas including:
Questions also consider when symptoms began, how long they have lasted, the distress they cause and their effect on social and developmental functioning. The interview includes questions relevant to dissociative experiences and the child psychologist’s clinical assessment of overall symptom severity and response validity.
The child psychologist conducts CAPS-CA-5 with the child or adolescent. The questions focus on symptoms linked to a particular traumatic event, sometimes called the index event. Relevant trauma-history information may be gathered separately to help identify which event should form the basis of the interview.
There are no school-style right or wrong answers. The young person is asked about how often symptoms occur and how strongly they affect them. Optional picture response choices can support younger participants in describing frequency and intensity. Because the subject matter can be sensitive, parents should discuss suitability and preparation with the child psychologist.
The CAPS-CA-5 interview itself commonly takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes. It may take longer depending on the young person's symptoms, pace, communication needs, breaks and other clinical considerations. This does not represent the total time required for a broader trauma assessment.
The child psychologist uses the young person's responses and standardised follow-up questions to rate each symptom from absent to extreme or incapacitating. Frequency and intensity are combined into symptom-severity ratings. These ratings can be summarised across the DSM-5 symptom clusters and as an overall severity score.
The scoring rules can indicate whether symptom, duration, distress and functional-impact criteria are met within the interview. Scores still require clinical interpretation and should be considered with the referral question, trauma history, development, safety, functioning and other relevant information.
CAPS-CA-5 can provide detailed information relevant to PTSD diagnosis, but the interview should not be treated as a complete assessment on its own. A psychologist considers whether the reported experiences are best explained by PTSD and whether other clinical or contextual factors need assessment.
A score does not guarantee a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, school adjustment, funding or service eligibility. It also does not determine recovery or treatment outcomes.
A child psychologist may select CAPS-CA-5 when a detailed assessment of PTSD symptoms is appropriate for a young person aged 7 or older. A different approach may be required for younger children or when the referral question concerns other trauma-related, developmental or mental health needs.
Learn more about Quirky Kid's trauma and PTSD assessments for children, or book an initial consultation to discuss the most appropriate next step.
Our clinic provides psychological assessments and personalised treatment plans to support your child's needs. Our experienced psychologists gather detailed information to explore diagnoses and deliver effective interventions.
Each assessment results in a comprehensive report with background information, medical history, observations, and practical recommendations.
Our treatment plans address specific challenges and promote overall well-being.
Complete the form to schedule an assessment or treatment plan for your child.
.webp)