The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was created to detect mood disorders in patients suffering from serious physical illnesses. The word "hospital" is misleading. The scale is also used in outpatient settings. It can play an important role in the treatment of fatal or chronic illnesses. For example, R. Philip Snaith, a senior lecturer in Psychiatry at the University Of Leeds, cites research supporting the view that tolerable pain resulting from a serious illness may become intolerable if the patient is experiencing depression. As such, the scale is often used in doctor's office waiting rooms. Questions marked "A" indicate anxiety, and questions marked "D" indicate depression.
Step 1
Complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale at your doctors office or online.
Step 2
Respond to the questions as quickly as possible. Your answers should be based on feelings experienced in the past two weeks.
Step 3
Assess your scores for both depression and anxiety. Each question is given a rating of 1, 1, 2, or 3. Scores of 0 to 7 are normal. Scores of 9 to 10 are borderline abnormal and scores of 11 to 20 are abnormal, and may, in some cases indicate a clinical anxiety or depressive disorder.
Step 4
Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Depressive of anxiety disorders may be treated through medication, counseling or a combination of the two.
Tips and Warnings
- Two short, alternate tests are featured in the resources. Answer as honestly as possible.
- Severe depression or anxiety should not go untreated. Do not allow a friend or relative to help you complete the test.
