The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a renowned mental health screening tool designed to identify signs of anxiety and depression in adults. This straightforward and quick questionnaire allows individuals to reflect on their emotional state over the past week, while offering valuable insights for professionals regarding potential mental health issues.
The HADS consists of 14 questions, divided into two sections—7 focused on anxiety and 7 on depression. Each question employs a 4-point scale, enabling a concise assessment of emotional wellbeing in various settings, including clinical, community, and personal environments.
Key features of the HADS include:
- Questions targeting emotions such as restlessness, low mood, enjoyment, panic, worry, and motivation.
- An easy-to-complete tick-box format accompanied by clear scoring instructions.
- Results categorised as follows:
- 0–7: Normal range
- 8–10: Borderline abnormal
- 11–21: Clinically significant (abnormal)
- Useful for determining if further support or assessments may be needed.
Ideal for use by:
- General practitioners, nurses, therapists, and mental health professionals.
- Counselling services, IAPT teams, and NHS trusts.
- Support workers and wellbeing practitioners within community settings.
- Individuals or caregivers monitoring emotional health at home.
- Workplace wellbeing teams and mental health awareness initiatives.
This free screening tool proves particularly beneficial for early detection, ongoing monitoring, and fostering sensitive discussions surrounding mental health.
