Which instrument consists of 90 questions and is commonly used to assess behavior and screen for symptoms, often in intake settings?

• A. BASC
• B. CBCL
• C. SCL-90-R
• D. YSR

Answer: (C)

A quick, broad screening of psychological symptoms is often done with a self-report inventory that is around 90 items, because its length is enough to cover a wide range of symptom domains without taking too long to complete. The instrument that fits this well is a 90-item, self-administered questionnaire that yields a Global Severity Index and several symptom dimensions (like somatization, depression, anxiety, and more). In intake settings, this format provides a practical snapshot of a client’s current distress and helps decide what areas to explore more deeply or which referrals and follow-up assessments are needed.

Other options tend to serve different purposes or populations. A comprehensive battery designed for children and adolescents with multiple informants (parents, teachers, and self-reports) is more extensive and multi-method. A caregiver checklist focused on child behavior is not a self-report from the client. A youth self-report that covers similar domains usually contains more items and is tailored for younger clients, not a 90-item instrument.