Abstract

TEROL-CANTERO, M. Carmen; CABRERA-PERONA, Víctor  and  MARTIN-ARAGON, Maite. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) review in Spanish Samples. Anal. Psicol. [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.494-503. ISSN 1695-2294.  https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/analesps.31.2.172701.

Introduction: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) has become a popular clinical instrument designed to assess anxiety and depression. Evidence of HADS' good screening properties applied to several samples has been found. HADS seems to be as good screening properties as other tools. Different studies in Spanish sample tested its psychometric properties, including also their cut-offs points, specificity and sensitivity. Our aim is to unify the results of studies in Spanish population specifying guidelines regarding their applicability and interpretation of their cut-off points. Material and method: bibliographic review. Results: 15 articles were selected, a) HADS confirms its optimal psychometric properties in different groups, b) HADS shows some variability in proposed cut-off points for different groups, c) A number of items shown weak factor loading and item-test. Discussion: These items should be reconsidered for new proposals of a shortened final scale. We suggest attending at distress total scale.

Keywords : HADS; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; review; psychometric properties; cut-off points.

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