DASS

Question 1

What is the DASS?

Answer 1

The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale is used to measure 3 domains:

• Depression scale e.g. dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of involvement, anhedonia and inertia
• Anxiety scale e.g. autonomic arousal, msucular effects, situational anxiety and subjective experience of anxiety
• Stress scale e.g. difficulty winding down, nervous arousal, agitation/being easily upset, irritability/over-reacting and lack of patience

Question 2

How do the severity labels work for the DASS?

Answer 2

Severity labels describe the full range of scores in the population. “Mild” means the person is above the population mean but probably below the typical severity of someone seeking help (i.e. does not mean a mild level of a disorder).

Question 3

What age groups can the DASS be used on?

Answer 3

DASS was designed for people over 17 years, but can be appropriate for adolescents 14 years and older.

Question 4

How is the DASS administered?

Answer 4

The DASS is a self report scale with either 21 or 42 questions. Scores indicated by the clients are on a 4-point likert scale:
0 = did not apply to me at all
1 = some of the time
2 = a good part of the time
3 = most of the time

In reference to symptoms experienced over the past 1 week.

Question 5

What is the thresholds for moderate (aka significant) depression symptoms?

Answer 5

14+

Question 6

What is the thresholds for moderate (aka significant) anxiety symptoms?

Answer 6

10+

Question 7

What is the thresholds for moderate (aka significant) stress symptoms?

Answer 7

19+