Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale

This is a self screening questionnaire for depression and anxiety.¹ The patient should be instructed not to take too long over their replies: their immediate reaction to each item will probably be more accurate than a long thought-out response. It consists of 14 questions, seven for anxiety and seven for depression. Although it was designed for hospital General Medical Outpatients, it has been extensively used in Primary Care.²

Although the detail of the HAD scale may be available on the internet, any commercial use of the HAD scale requires copyright permissions or purchase of the questionnaires, both which must be obtained from GL Assessments (link below).

Alternative screening tools for depression

1. Two question test³
   • "During the last month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?".
   • "During the last month, have you often been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things?"
   The two-question test is sensitive (96%) at picking up depression but like all screening tests less specific (57%).³
   It is simple but does not test for anxiety.
2. Patient Health Questionnaire 9 - (PHQ-9) available here.