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Validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for use with adolescents
Abstract
Background:
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), developed for use with adults, has potential with adolescents.
Aims:
To test the HADS's validity with adolescents.
Method:
The HADS was given to 248 schoolchildren and to 48 psychiatric out-patients and 38 deliberate self-harm in-patients aged 12-17, and validated against ICD-10 diagnoses for the out-patients.
Results:
The HADS has adequate test-retest reliability and factor structure, and discriminates between adolescents diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders and those without these diagnoses.
Conclusions:
The psychometric properties of the HADS and its shortness make it useful for screening and in clinical settings with adolescents.