Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) - Caregiver Report (Ages 7-17 years)
Stressful or scary events happen to many children. Below is a list of stressful and scary
events that sometimes happen. Mark YES if it happened to the child to the best of your
knowledge. Mark No if it didn’t happen to the child.
1. Serious natural disaster like a flood, tornado, hurricane,
earthquake, or fire.
Yes
No
2. Serious accident or injury like a car/bike crash, dog bite,
sports injury.
Yes
No
3. Robbed by threat, force or weapon.
Yes
No
4. Slapped, punched, or beat up in the family.
Yes
No
5. Slapped, punched, or beat up by someone not in the
family.
Yes
No
6. Seeing someone in the family get slapped, punched or
beat up.
Yes
No
7. Seeing someone in the community get slapped, punched
or beat up.
Yes
No
8. Someone older touching his/her private parts when
they shouldn’t.
Yes
No
9. Someone forcing or pressuring sex, or when s/ he
couldn’t say no.
Yes
No
10. Someone close to the child dying suddenly or violently.
Yes
No
11. Attacked, stabbed, shot at or hurt badly.
Yes
No
12. Seeing someone attacked, stabbed, shot at, hurt badly or
killed.
Yes
No
13. Stressful or scary medical procedure.
Yes
No
14. Being around war.
Yes
No
15. Other stressful or scary event?
Yes
No
Describe:
Which one is bothering the child most now?
If you marked “YES” to any stressful or scary events for the child, then turn
the page and answer the next questions.
Child’s Name:
Date:
Caregiver Name:
Mark 0, 1, 2 or 3 for how often the following things have bothered the child in the last two weeks:
0 Never / 1 Once in a while / 2 Half the time / 3 Almost always
1. Upsetting thoughts or images about a stressful event. Or re-enacting a stressful event
in play.
0
1
2
3
2. Bad dreams related to a stressful event.
0
1
2
3
3. Acting, playing or feeling as if a stressful event is happening right now.
0
1
2
3
4. Feeling very emotionally upset when reminded of a stressful event.
0
1
2
3
5. Strong physical reactions when reminded of a stressful event
(sweating, heart beating fast).
0
1
2
3
6. Trying not to remember, talk about or have feelings about a stressful event.
0
1
2
3
7. Avoiding activities, people, places or things that are reminders of a stressful event.
0
1
2
3
8. Not being able to remember an important part of a stressful event.
0
1
2
3
9. Negative changes in how s/he thinks about self, others or the world after a stressful
event.
0
1
2
3
10. Thinking a stressful event happened because s/he or someone else did something
wrong or did not do enough to stop it.
0
1
2
3
11. Having very negative emotional states (afraid, angry, guilty, ashamed).
0
1
2
3
12. Losing interest in activities s/he enjoyed before a stressful event. Including not
playing as much.
0
1
2
3
13. Feeling distant or cut off from people around her/him.
0
1
2
3
14. Not showing or reduced positive feelings (being happy, having loving feelings).
0
1
2
3
15. Being irritable. Or having angry outbursts without a good reason and taking it out
on other people or things.
0
1
2
3
16. Risky behavior or behavior that could be harmful.
0
1
2
3
17. Being overly alert or on guard.
0
1
2
3
18. Being jumpy or easily startled.
0
1
2
3
19. Problems with concentration.
0
1
2
3
20. Trouble falling or staying asleep.
0
1
2
3
Please mark “YES” or “NO” if the problems you marked interfered with:
1. Getting along with others
Yes
No
4. Family relationships
Yes
No
2. Hobbies/Fun
Yes
No
5. General happiness
Yes
No
3. School or work
Yes
No
Total Score____
Clinical = 15+
