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DASS-21 — Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales

Lovibond & Lovibond, 199521 items · 3 subscales5–10 minOriginal Lovibond & Lovibond cut-offsRU · EN
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CalculatorAboutNormsClinical useSourcesFAQ

What DASS-21 measures

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire developed by S.H. Lovibond and P.F. Lovibond (University of New South Wales) as a short form of the 42-item DASS. It measures the severity of negative emotional states over the past week across three related but distinguishable dimensions: Depression (dysphoria, anhedonia, self-devaluation, hopelessness), Anxiety (autonomic arousal, skeletal-muscular effects, situational anxiety) and Stress (chronic non-specific tension, irritability, difficulty relaxing).

Unlike narrow scales (PHQ-9 covers depression only, GAD-7 anxiety only), DASS-21 profiles three axes from a single questionnaire. Its Stress subscale is unique and absent from most screening measures, helping to separate generalized tension from depression and anxiety proper.

DASS is a dimensional severity measure, not a diagnostic instrument. It does not distinguish clinical entities and does not replace clinical diagnosis; elevated scores indicate the need for closer assessment.
Each item is scored 0–3 with no reverse scoring. Each subscale raw sum (0–21) is multiplied by 2 to give a displayed score of 0–42, against which the Lovibond & Lovibond (1995) cut-offs are applied — these cut-offs DIFFER by subscale.

Norms & cut-offs

DASS-D — Depression subscale, displayed (×2) score (per Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Score rangeLevelClinical meaning
0–9NormalWithin the normal range
10–13MildMild level of depressive symptoms
14–20ModerateModerate level of depressive symptoms
21–27SevereHigh level; clinical assessment indicated
28–42Extremely severeVery high level; prioritise assessment, including risk
DASS-A — Anxiety subscale, displayed (×2) score (per Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Score rangeLevelClinical meaning
0–7NormalWithin the normal range
8–9MildMild level of anxiety symptoms
10–14ModerateModerate level of anxiety symptoms
15–19SevereHigh level; clinical assessment indicated
20–42Extremely severeVery high level; prioritise clinical assessment
DASS-S — Stress subscale, displayed (×2) score (per Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Score rangeLevelClinical meaning
0–14NormalWithin the normal range
15–18MildMild level of tension/stress symptoms
19–25ModerateModerate level of tension and difficulty relaxing
26–33SevereHigh level of chronic tension; assessment indicated
34–42Extremely severeVery high level; prioritise clinical assessment

Use in clinical practice

DASS-21 is used for profile screening of negative affect and for monitoring change over time (repeat at intervals). Its brevity makes it convenient for repeated administration.

Profile screening

The key difference from anxiety/depression scales is the separate Stress axis (tension / over-reactivity), which helps differentiate generalized tension from depression or anxiety proper. Each subscale score is interpreted against its OWN cut-offs.

The ×2 multiplier

The ×2 multiplier is mandatory — without it the Lovibond cut-offs do not apply, because they were defined for the full 42-item DASS. Each subscale therefore maxes at 42, not 21.

The result is a guide to symptom severity, not a diagnosis. With high scores (severe / extremely severe), especially on the Depression subscale, a clinical assessment and a separate risk check are indicated.

Sources

  • Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation of Australia; 1995.
  • Lovibond PF, Lovibond SH. The structure of negative emotional states: comparison of the DASS with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1995;33(3):335–343.
  • Antony MM, Bieling PJ, Cox BJ, Enns MW, Swinson RP. Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the DASS in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment. 1998;10(2):176–181.
  • Henry JD, Crawford JR. The short-form version of the DASS-21: construct validity and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2005;44(2):227–239.
  • Russian-language norms are limited; there is no single canonical published Russian normative adaptation with established cut-offs, so the original Lovibond & Lovibond (1995) cut-offs are applied.
DASS-21 calculator
0 of 21 items completed21 items left
StressI found it hard to wind down
AnxietyI was aware of dryness of my mouth
DepressionI couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all
AnxietyI experienced breathing difficulty (e.g., excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion)
DepressionI found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things
StressI tended to over-react to situations
AnxietyI experienced trembling (e.g., in the hands)
StressI felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy
AnxietyI was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself
DepressionI felt that I had nothing to look forward to
StressI found myself getting agitated
StressI found it difficult to relax
DepressionI felt down-hearted and blue
StressI was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing
AnxietyI felt I was close to panic
DepressionI was unable to become enthusiastic about anything
DepressionI felt I wasn't worth much as a person
StressI felt that I was rather touchy
AnxietyI 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)
AnxietyI felt scared without any good reason
DepressionI felt that life was meaningless
Depression (DASS-D)0 / 42
Anxiety (DASS-A)0 / 42
Stress (DASS-S)0 / 42

Clinical use of DASS-21

Questions about scoring, the ×2 multiplier, and the scale's limits

DASS-21 is the short form of the 42-item DASS; multiplying by 2 maps the result onto the full-version scale so its normative cut-offs apply. That is why each subscale maxes at 42, not 21.
Each subscale was normed separately against the reference sample, so the same number means a different severity for different subscales. Each subscale is therefore interpreted against its own cut-offs.
PHQ-9 covers depression only and GAD-7 anxiety only; DASS-21 profiles three axes at once and adds a unique Stress dimension (tension / irritability).
It captures chronic non-specific tension — difficulty relaxing, agitation, irritability, over-reactivity. It is not a 'diagnosis of stress' but a dimension distinct from depression and anxiety.
No. DASS-21 indicates symptom severity over the past week as a guide; a diagnosis requires clinical assessment by a professional. Seek a professional if scores are high.
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Used together with DASS-21

Depression · self-report
PHQ-9

Targeted depression screen, 0–27, with a suicide-ideation item. Clarifies and complements the DASS Depression subscale.

Coming soon
Anxiety · self-report
GAD-7

Targeted generalized-anxiety screen, 0–21. Complements the DASS Anxiety subscale.

Coming soon
Anxiety / Depression
HADS

Two-subscale self-report without somatic items; useful when somatic symptoms may distort the anxiety estimate, as DASS-A autonomic items can overlap with physical illness.

Open
DASS-21 is a self-report questionnaire. Rate how much each statement applied to you over the past week. The result reflects symptom severity and is a guide, not a diagnosis; it does not replace a professional's clinical judgment. If scores are high, consult a mental-health professional.
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