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DASS-21

DASS-21 Calculator

The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report instrument that measures three related but distinct symptom domains: depression, anxiety, and stress. Because it separates stress from anxiety, it can be useful for distinguishing everyday tension from more specific anxious or depressive symptoms.

If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your local emergency number now, or a crisis line such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the US). This tool cannot provide emergency support.

Please read each statement and select a number 0, 1, 2 or 3 that indicates how much the statement applied to you over the past week.

1I found it hard to wind down

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

2I was aware of dryness of my mouth

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

6I tended to over-react to situations

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

10I felt that I had nothing to look forward to

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

11I found myself getting agitated

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

12I found it difficult to relax

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

13I felt down-hearted and blue

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

15I felt I was close to panic

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

16I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

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

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

18I felt that I was rather touchy

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

19I 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)

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

20I felt scared without any good reason

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

21I felt that life was meaningless

Did not apply to me at all Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of time Applied to me very much, or most of the time

How the score is calculated

Each item is rated 0–3 for how much it applied to you over the past week. Items are grouped into three seven-item subscales (Depression, Anxiety, Stress). Each subscale's raw score is doubled, per the standard DASS-21 scoring convention, to align with the full 42-item DASS severity ranges.

Important limitations

The DASS-21 measures general emotional distress along three dimensions; it does not diagnose a specific disorder.
It is most informative when compared across time or alongside a clinical interview, rather than as a one-off score.
Physical anxiety symptoms (e.g., a racing heart) can overlap with unrelated medical causes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DASS-21?

A 21-item questionnaire measuring depression, anxiety, and stress as three related but separate emotional states, using seven items per domain.

How is the DASS-21 scored?

Each domain's seven item scores are summed and then doubled, giving a score from 0–42 per domain that can be compared against published severity ranges.

Why does the DASS-21 separate stress from anxiety?

Stress captures tension, irritability, and difficulty relaxing, which can occur without the specific physiological anxiety symptoms the anxiety subscale targets.

Is the DASS-21 a diagnostic tool?

No — it screens for the severity of distress across three domains and is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation.

Sources & References

Lovibond SH & Lovibond PF. Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Psychology Foundation of Australia.

Disclaimer

This tool is provided for educational and screening purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose a mental health condition or replace evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

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PHQ-9
GAD-7
K10

Last reviewed: October 2026

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