DASS-21 · 4 minutes
Depression, anxiety & stress (DASS-21)
Reflect on the past week. 21 items spanning three subscales (depression, anxiety, stress). Result gives a separate severity band for each — useful when symptoms cluster across multiple domains.
I found it hard to wind down.
Educational tool — not a diagnosis. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales — short form (DASS-21), Lovibond & Lovibond 1995. Validated in clinical and community samples worldwide.
Frequently asked
Plain-language answers about dass-21, this screener, and what evaluation costs at a Class A hospital in China.
- How is DASS-21 different from PHQ-9 / GAD-7?
- DASS-21 measures three dimensions (depression, anxiety, stress) in one instrument with shared response options. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are single-domain screeners with stronger primary-care validation. DASS-21 is preferred when symptoms span multiple domains.
- What are the DASS-21 cutoffs?
- Each subscale is scored separately and doubled (DASS-21 is a short form of DASS-42). Depression: normal 0–9, mild 10–13, moderate 14–20, severe 21–27, extremely severe ≥28. Anxiety: normal 0–7, mild 8–9, moderate 10–14, severe 15–19, extremely severe ≥20. Stress: normal 0–14, mild 15–18, moderate 19–25, severe 26–33, extremely severe ≥34.
- What if I score in the severe range?
- Severe range on any subscale warrants prompt clinical evaluation. If you have any thoughts of self-harm, contact local emergency services immediately. Class A psychiatry departments at academic centres in China provide structured evaluation at USD 140–280.
About this screener
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales — short form (DASS-21), Lovibond & Lovibond 1995. Validated in clinical and community samples worldwide.
What this screener covers
- Major depressive disorder(ICD-10 F32)
- Generalised anxiety disorder(ICD-10 F41.1)
- Reaction to severe stress(ICD-10 F43)
Validated source
Lovibond & Lovibond 1995 — DASS validation (Behav Res Ther) ↗
Medical review
Reviewed by Panda Touring Care medical team (Psychiatry coordinator review) · last reviewed 2025-04-01
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