Up until now, there has been no available overview of broadband rating scales used for the evaluation of clinical syndromes in childhood and adolescence in German speaking countries. With the aid of a systematic empirical review, all broadband rating scales that fulfilled defined inclusion criteria were described by experts. On average, the N = 14 identified instruments are constructed in a mixed approach and contain 87 items on 4.1 pages to be answered on a 4-point rating scale. Reliability of the subscales (Cronbach's α) is rather dissatisfying, although the internal consistency of total scales is moderate to good. Almost all rating scales are of approved construct validity using German samples. Approximately half of all tests are validated by external criteria. In summary, the existing instruments turned out to be of superior quantity and quality than initially expected, although for a range of diagnostic settings there is no adequate and valid instrument available.