Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 42 item
DASS-42 is the original 42-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. This page is for clinics comparing it with DASS-21. It is not a public test.
Overview
What is the DASS-42?
DASS-42 is the full three-scale instrument. It takes longer than DASS-21. Clinics choose length based on burden, purpose, and comparability with previous scores.
Development and clinical use
The 42-item DASS was the first published length. DASS-21 was derived later. Mixing lengths in a change-over-time chart without labelling the form is a common error.
- Items
- 42 self-report
- Short relative
- DASS-21
- Scales
- Depression, anxiety, stress
- Reference period
- Past week
- Clinical role
- Outcome monitoring
- Diagnosis
- Not established by score
Administration
A focused client experience
Respondents rate 42 statements about the past week. Burden is higher than DASS-21. Incomplete responses need a clinic rule, not an improvised half-score.
- One question at a time with visible progress
- Large keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and answer-review steps
- Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
The illustration does not reproduce DASS-42 items.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
Scoring follows the UNSW DASS template. Depression, anxiety and stress each sum 14 items to give 0-42 per scale. DASS-42 reports three scale scores with no total and no severity band.
References
- Official DASS materialsPsychology Foundation of Australia. Depression Anxiety Stress Scales.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the DASS-42
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
Can we switch from DASS-21 to DASS-42 mid-episode?
Only with a clear record of the form change. DASS-21 scale scores are doubled so they sit on the same 0-42 range as DASS-42.
Does DASS-42 diagnose?
No. It is a self-report outcome measure.
Can I complete it here?
No. This page is educational.
Which DASS should a clinic choose?
The clinician and service protocol choose length. This page does not recommend a battery.