Therapie Digital

DASS-21

GENERAL

Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21

Depression, anxiety, and stress screening questionnaire

21 questions·ende
Response Scale
0Did not apply to me at all
1Applied to me to some degree
2Applied to me to a considerable degree
3Applied to me very much
Questions

Please read each statement and select the number which indicates how much the statement applied to you over the past week:

1

I found it hard to wind down

2

I was aware of dryness of my mouth

3

I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all

4

I experienced breathing difficulty

5

I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things

6

I tended to over-react to situations

7

I experienced trembling (e.g. in the hands)

8

I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy

9

I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself

10

I felt that I had nothing to look forward to

11

I found myself getting agitated

12

I found it difficult to relax

13

I felt down-hearted and blue

14

I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing

15

I felt I was close to panic

16

I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything

17

I felt I wasn't worth much as a person

18

I felt that I was rather touchy

19

I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion

20

I felt scared without any good reason

21

I felt that life was meaningless

Scoring
Method: Subscale Scoring

Subscales

stress
7 items × 2
Normal0–14
Mild15–18
Moderate19–25
Severe26–33
Extremely Severe34–42
anxiety
7 items × 2
Normal0–7
Mild8–9
Moderate10–14
Severe15–19
Extremely Severe20–42
depression
7 items × 2
Normal0–9
Mild10–13
Moderate14–20
Severe21–27
Extremely Severe28–42

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DASS-21?
The DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire with three 7-item subscales measuring depression, anxiety, and stress. It provides a broad overview of emotional distress.
How is the DASS-21 scored?
Each item is scored 0–3. Subscale scores are calculated by summing the 7 relevant items and multiplying by 2 to match the full DASS-42 norms. Severity labels range from normal to extremely severe for each subscale.
When should I use the DASS-21 vs. the PHQ-9 and GAD-7?
Use the DASS-21 when you want a single instrument covering depression, anxiety, and stress. Use the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 when you want more established cut-offs for specific disorders or when the patient's primary complaint is clearly depression or anxiety.

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