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What is the DASS-21?
The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is a widely used, validated self-report questionnaire designed to measure three related negative emotional states: depression, anxiety, and stress. It consists of 21 items — 7 per subscale — each rated on a 4-point scale from 0 ("Did not apply to me at all") to 3 ("Applied to me very much, or most of the time").
The DASS-21 is a shortened version of the original 42-item DASS developed by Lovibond & Lovibond (1995). Scores are multiplied by 2 to align with the full DASS-42 normative data, providing clinicians with reliable severity classifications.
How This Tool Works
1. Generate Assessment
Doctors create a unique session with a QR code from the landing page — no login or account required.
2. Patient Completes
Patients scan the QR code on their own device to answer all 21 questions privately, one at a time.
3. Instant Results
Scores are automatically calculated with severity ratings for depression, anxiety, and stress — displayed to the doctor in real time.
Key Features
- No personal information stored — The tool collects only questionnaire responses. No names, emails, or identifying data are required or recorded.
- QR code access — Patients access the questionnaire by scanning a unique QR code, making the process quick and paperless.
- One question at a time — The interface presents questions individually with a progress indicator, reducing overwhelm and improving response quality.
- Automatic scoring — Depression, anxiety, and stress scores are calculated instantly using standard DASS-21 methodology (scores doubled for DASS-42 equivalence).
- Severity classifications — Results include severity labels (Normal, Mild, Moderate, Severe, Extremely Severe) for each subscale.
- Real-time updates — Doctors see results appear on their screen as soon as the patient completes the assessment.
- Mobile-friendly — Fully responsive design works on phones, tablets, and desktops.
DASS-21 Severity Ratings
| Severity |
Depression |
Anxiety |
Stress |
| Normal | 0–9 | 0–7 | 0–14 |
| Mild | 10–13 | 8–9 | 15–18 |
| Moderate | 14–20 | 10–14 | 19–25 |
| Severe | 21–27 | 15–19 | 26–33 |
| Extremely Severe | 28+ | 20+ | 34+ |
DASS-21 Subscales
Depression (Questions 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21)
Measures dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia, and inertia.
Anxiety (Questions 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, 20)
Measures autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect.
Stress (Questions 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 18)
Measures difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, being easily upset/agitated, irritable/over-reactive, and impatient.
References
Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation.
Antony, M.M., Bieling, P.J., Cox, B.J., Enns, M.W., & Swinson, R.P. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 176–181.