Assessment Of Depression, Part 2
In this part 2 we look at the DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale).
“The DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) is a 42-item self report instrument designed to measure the three related negative emotional states of depression, anxiety and tension/stress. The DASS questionnaire is in the public domain and may be downloaded from the University of New South Wales website.
(There are no restrictions or copyright issues imposed on use).
“The DASS was constructed to further the process of defining, understanding and measuring the clinically significant emotional states usually described as depression, anxiety and stress. The DASS should thus meet the requirements of both researchers and scientist-professional clinicians” (quoted from Psychology Foundation of Australia, 2007).Each of the three scales (depression, anxiety and stress) contains 14 items, divided into subscales of 2-5 items with similar content.
The Depression scale assesses dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, and lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia, and inertia. The Anxiety scale assesses autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect. The Stress scale is sensitive to levels of chronic non-specific arousal. It assesses difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, and being easily upset/agitated, irritable/over-reactive and impatient.
Subjects are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (from 0 to 3) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state over the past week. Scores for Depression, Anxiety and Stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items.” (quoted from Psychology Foundation of Australia, 2007).
Characteristics of high scorers on each DASS scale (quoted from Psychology Foundation of Australia, 2007):
- Depression scale
- self-disparaging
- dispirited, gloomy, blue
- convinced that life has no meaning or value
- pessimistic about the future
- unable to experience enjoyment or satisfaction
- unable to become interested or involved
- slow, lacking in initiative
- Anxiety scale
- apprehensive, panicky
- trembly, shaky
- aware of dryness of the mouth, breathing difficulties, pounding of the heart, sweatiness of the palms
- worried about performance and possible loss of control
- Stress scale
- over-aroused, tense
- unable to relax
- touchy, easily upset
- irritable
- easily startled
- nervy, jumpy, fidgety
- intolerant of interruption or delay”
For more information on the DASS and how to administer it, please refer to above mentioned website.
