Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21)

The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21) is a widely used self-report instrument designed to measure the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. This scientifically validated tool consists of 21 questions that help assess the severity of these core symptoms.

Last Updated: 4 February, 2025

  • Length: 5 minutes
  • Questions: 21 questions

What Does It Measure?

Depression Scale

Evaluates symptoms of low mood, including loss of pleasure in activities, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty finding motivation, and persistent sadness. It also measures changes in sleep patterns, appetite, and ability to concentrate.

Anxiety Scale

Measures physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety, such as racing heart, sweating, trembling, and feeling scared or panicky. It also assesses situational anxiety and general feelings of worry or unease.

Stress Scale

Assesses general tension and stress responses, including difficulty winding down, tendency to overreact to situations, feeling agitated or restless, and trouble being patient. It also measures how easily you become frustrated or irritated.

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DASS21 Online Assessment

Please read each statement and select a number 0, 1, 2 or 3 which indicates how much the statement applied to you over the past week. There are no right or wrong answers.

Question 1: I found it hard to wind down

Question 2: I was aware of dryness of my mouth

Question 3: I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all

Question 4: I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g. excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion)

Question 5: I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things

Question 6: I tended to over-react to situations

Question 7: I experienced trembling (e.g. in the hands)

Question 8: I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy

Question 9: I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself

Question 10: I felt that I had nothing to look forward to

Question 11: I found myself getting agitated

Question 12: I found it difficult to relax

Question 13: I felt down-hearted and blue

Question 14: I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing

Question 15: I felt I was close to panic

Question 16: I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything

Question 17: I felt I wasn't worth much as a person

Question 18: I felt that I was rather touchy

Question 19: 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)

Question 20: I felt scared without any good reason

Question 21: I felt that life was meaningless

Frequently Asked Questions

How Scoring Works

The DASS21 uses a four-point severity scale to rate each state:

  • Never = 0
  • Sometimes = 1
  • Often = 2
  • Almost Always = 3

Scores for Depression, Anxiety and Stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items and multiplying by 2. Each scale has its own severity ratings ranging from Normal to Extremely Severe.