PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS SCALES (DASS) IN CLINICAL-SAMPLES

The psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (D ASS)were evaluated in two studies using large clinical samples (N = 43 7 and N = 241). In Study 1, the three scales comprising the DASS were shown to have excellent internal consistency and temporal stability. A n exploratory factor analysis (principal components extraction with va rimax rotation) yielded a solution that was highly consistent with the factor structure previously found in nonclinical samples. Between-gro ups comparisons indicated that the DASS distinguished various anxiety and mood disorder groups in the predicted direction. In Study 2, the c onceptual and empirical latent structure of the DASS was upheld by fin dings from confirmatory factor analysis. Correlations between the DASS and other questionnaire and clinical rating measures of anxiety, depr ession, and negative affect demonstrated the convergent and discrimina nt validity of the scales. In addition to supporting the psychometric properties of the DASS in clinical anxiety and mood disorders samples, the results are discussed in the context of current conceptualization s of the distinctive and overlapping features of anxiety and depressio n. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd