Important Disclaimer
This screening tool is for educational and self-awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
What This Assessment Measures
- Depression: Dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia, inertia
- Anxiety: Autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, subjective experience of anxious affect
- Stress: Difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, easily upset/agitated, irritability/over-reactivity, impatience
21
Questions
5–10
Minutes
100%
Confidential
The 21 Questions
Every question is answered on the same scale: Did not apply to me at all, Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time, Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of the time, Applied to me very much, or most of the time.
- I found it hard to wind down
- I was aware of dryness of my mouth
- I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all
- I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g., excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion)
- I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things
- I tended to over-react to situations
- I experienced trembling (e.g., in the hands)
- I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy
- I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself
- I felt that I had nothing to look forward to
- I found myself getting agitated
- I found it difficult to relax
- I felt down-hearted and blue
- I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing
- I felt I was close to panic
- I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything
- I felt I wasn't worth much as a person
- I felt that I was rather touchy
- I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (e.g., sense of heart rate increase, heart missing a beat)
- I felt scared without any good reason
- I felt that life was meaningless
About the DASS-21
The DASS-21 was developed by researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). It is the short form of the original 42-item DASS and has become one of the most widely used measures of emotional distress in both clinical and research settings.
Unlike single-construct measures, the DASS-21 simultaneously assesses depression, anxiety, and stress, providing a more nuanced picture of an individual's emotional state. The three scales have been shown to have high internal consistency and meaningful discriminant validity, meaning they effectively distinguish between the three emotional states.
The DASS-21 scores are multiplied by 2 to allow comparison with the full DASS-42 normative data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DASS-21?+
The DASS-21 is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that measures three related negative emotional states: depression, anxiety, and stress. It was developed at the University of New South Wales and is widely used in clinical and research settings.
How is the DASS-21 scored?+
The 21 items are divided into three subscales of 7 items each. Each item is scored 0-3. The subscale scores are summed and then multiplied by 2 to allow comparison with the full 42-item DASS normative data.
Why does the DASS-21 measure three things?+
Depression, anxiety, and stress often co-occur but are distinct emotional experiences. The DASS-21 helps differentiate between them, which is important for understanding your emotional state and determining the most appropriate treatment approach.
How is the DASS-21 different from the PHQ-9 or GAD-7?+
The PHQ-9 focuses solely on depression and the GAD-7 on anxiety, while the DASS-21 measures all three dimensions (depression, anxiety, and stress) in a single instrument. The DASS-21 provides a broader picture of emotional distress.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. 2nd ed. Sydney: Psychology Foundation; 1995.
- Henry JD, Crawford JR. The short-form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Br J Clin Psychol. 2005;44(Pt 2):227-239.
- Antony MM, Bieling PJ, Cox BJ, et al. Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the DASS. Behav Res Ther. 1998;36(2):141-154.
- Osman A, Wong JL, Bagge CL, et al. The DASS-21 as a screening instrument for depression and anxiety. J Psychopathol Behav Assess. 2012;34(3):315-329.