Depression, Anxiety & Stress (DASS-42)

What the DASS-42 measures

Developed by researchers at the University of New South Wales, the DASS-42 was designed to isolate and define the core features of depression, anxiety, and stress while minimizing the overlap between them. Unlike categorical diagnostic tools (which simply say if a disorder is present or absent), the DASS operates on a dimensional model, acknowledging that these negative emotional states exist on a continuum of severity from normal to extremely severe.

The dimensions it assesses

• Depression Scale: Assesses dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia, and inertia.
• Anxiety Scale: Assesses autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect (panic).
• Stress Scale: Assesses difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, being easily upset/agitated, irritable/over-reactive, and impatient. (This acts as a measure of chronic, non-specific arousal).

What your score means

The scores for the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress subscales are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant 14 items. (Note: If using the DASS-21 short form, scores must be multiplied by 2 to align with these normative cut-offs. This represents the full DASS-42, so no multiplication is required).

These ranges describe groups of people, not individuals. A score near a boundary is not meaningfully different from one just across it, and no range on this table is a diagnosis.

What to do with your result

1. Severe/Extremely Severe Elevations: Any score in the Severe or Extremely Severe range warrants immediate recommendation for clinical psychiatric or psychological evaluation. This is a triage priority.
2. High Stress vs. High Anxiety: It is common for Stress to be elevated while Anxiety is normal. This indicates chronic overwork and burnout, rather than a clinical panic disorder. Interventions should focus on lifestyle pacing, boundary setting, and nervous system down-regulation (e.g., meditation, sleep hygiene).
3. Anhedonia Focus: If Depression is high specifically due to items like Q3, Q16, Q24 (Anhedonia - loss of joy), behavioral activation is the first-line psychological intervention (forcing engagement with positive activities even without motivation).

Common questions about the DASS-42

What does the DASS-42 measure?

Dimensional measurement of the three related negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, and tension/stress.

Can the DASS-42 diagnose me?

No. Depression, Anxiety & Stress (DASS-42) is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic tool. It can flag that something may need a closer look. It cannot tell you what is causing it. Grief, burnout, a thyroid problem, medication side effects, chronic pain and months of bad sleep are not among its questions, and any of them can move a score. Telling those apart is what a professional assessment is for.

What is considered a high score on the DASS-42?

Scores of 28+ fall in the range described as "Extremely Severe", while 0 – 9 is described as "Normal". Those labels describe bands of scores rather than people, and a score sitting one point either side of a boundary is not meaningfully different from one just across it.

How long does the DASS-42 take?

42 questions, which most people finish in 10 – 15 minutes. There is no time limit, and answering honestly matters more than answering quickly. The results page checks for patterns suggesting the questions were rushed.

Is this DASS-42 test really free?

Yes. No account, no email address, no payment. Psychometrics Today is funded by donations rather than advertising, which is also what allows us to publish instruments whose authors permit free but non-commercial use.

Are my answers stored or shared?

No. Your answers are scored inside your browser and never sent to us. There is no database of responses, because we never receive any. Closing the tab erases them, which is why results cannot be recovered afterwards.

How often should I retake the DASS-42?

Most of these questionnaires ask about the past one to two weeks, so retaking sooner than that mostly measures the same period twice. Every two to four weeks is a reasonable rhythm if you are tracking change. A direction of travel over several weeks tells a doctor far more than any single score.

How accurate is the DASS-42?

Screening questionnaires are good at flagging that something merits attention and poor at establishing what it is. This one is sensitive to how you feel on the day you take it, and many instruments were validated on narrow populations whose cut-offs may not transfer cleanly to everyone. The references at the foot of this page are the primary sources.