Parenting often feels like a guessing game.
Is your 8-year-old quiet because they are tired, or because they are sad? Is your 10-year-old “acting out” because they are being difficult, or because they are anxious and don’t know how to say it?
Children are masters at hiding their feelings. They don’t usually sit you down and say, “Mother, I am experiencing symptoms of generalized anxiety.” Instead, they complain of stomach aches. They refuse to go to school. They get angry over small things.
To crack this code, pediatricians use a tool called the PSC.
The Science: The Emotional Thermometer
The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was created by Dr. Michael Jellinek at Harvard Medical School. Think of it as a thermometer, but for emotional health.
It acts as a broad “radar” scan. Unlike tests that look for just one thing (like ADHD), the PSC looks for the whole picture. It scans for attention problems, anxiety, depression, and conduct issues all at once.
It is one of the most widely used screens in the world because it acknowledges a simple truth: mental health problems in kids often look like “behavior problems” to adults. By scoring the behavior, we can uncover the emotion behind it.
The Tool: PSC-35
The standard PSC has 35 questions. It is designed to be filled out by parents of children aged 4 to 16 years. It takes about 5 minutes to complete in the waiting room or at home.
👉 Take the Screen: Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC)
What To Do With Your Score
The PSC gives you a total score.
- The “Cut-Off” Score:
- For children ages 6-16, a score of 28 or higher is the warning zone.
- For younger children (4-5), a score of 24 or higher is significant.
- What a High Score Means: It suggests your child is carrying an emotional load that is heavier than average. It is a strong signal that they might need support—whether that’s a school counselor, a therapist, or just some changes at home.
- The Sub-Scales: The test can also point you in a specific direction:
- Internalizing: Is the child sad or anxious? (Turning pain inward).
- Externalizing: Is the child fighting or breaking rules? (Turning pain outward).
- Attention: Is the child fidgety or distracted?
Safety & Disclaimer
This tool is for educational screening purposes only.
- Not a Label: A high score does not mean your child has a “disorder.” It means they are struggling. Stressful events—like a move, a divorce, or a new sibling—can temporarily spike these scores.
- Talk to the Pros: Always share these results with your pediatrician. They know your child’s medical history and can put these numbers into context.
References
- Jellinek, M. S., et al. (1988). Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Screening school-age children for psychosocial dysfunction. The Journal of Pediatrics.
- Murphy, J. M., et al. (2016). The Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Monitoring effectiveness of integrated mental health care. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
- Jellinek, M. S., & Murphy, J. M. (1990). The recognition of psychosocial disorders in pediatric practice: The final report of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist.