Overview: Anxiety, Stress, & Depression Tests

Many people exhibit symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. These symptoms can manifest similarly and have root causes, though they usually require different approaches to treatment and management. Taking an anxiety, stress, and depression test may provide insight into your symptoms while gathering pertinent health information to create a more effective treatment plan. A licensed therapist can help you navigate your symptoms and determine the best form of treatment for you.

Types of anxiety, stress, and depression tests

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) Questionnaire (which is available in several languages) generally consists of 42 self-reported questions intended to evaluate levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in adults. There are also shortened versions of the test, including DASS-21, which consists of 21 questions; the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 12 (DASS-12); and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8 (DASS-8). In addition, there's a modified version of this test called DASS-Y (DASS Youth), which has simplified language and may be suitable for younger test takers.

Other tests that may measure aspects of the three dimensions of anxiety, stress, and depression include the screening test from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and free mental health tests from Mental Health America. These self-evaluation tests are normally intended to monitor mental health and indicate whether you could be experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

The relationship between anxiety, stress, and depression

Anxiety, stress, and depression tests generally recognize that these symptoms operate on a spectrum. For example, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) may be based on the premise that mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can be intrinsically dimensional and vary along a continuum of severity. While each symptom may operate on a spectrum, anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms may also express themselves together and influence one another.

Research supports the relationship between anxiety, stress, and depression. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 60% of people with an anxiety disorder may also have depression. 

According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, an anxiety disorder usually manifests before a depressive disorder. Neuroticism and having an anxious temperament can be predispositions to developing a major depressive disorder. 

Additional factors that can impact anxiety, stress, and depression

In a review of 15 years of study, research findings point to other potential factors linked with both anxiety and depression. These can include low self-esteem and repetitive negative thinking. Low self-esteem, in particular, can be a predictor of recurrence and persistence of depression and anxiety. 

Research findings also suggest underlying factors that may be linked with the severity of depression. They generally relate to how one internalizes and externalizes information, as well as thought disorder. A formal thought disorder (FTD) usually refers to how one organizes words and ideas to express something. While primarily linked with schizophrenia, severe depression may make one more prone to manifesting symptoms of a thought disorder. 

Scales used in the DASS

The DASS usually evaluates emotional states through scales demarcated to measure symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Its main use in a clinical setting may be to “clarify the locus of emotional disturbance, as part of the broader task of clinical assessment” and to focus on the severity of the main symptoms. 

The Depression scale normally measures such states as hopelessness, devaluation of life, and lack of interest or involvement in activities. Scoring high on this scale may indicate pessimism about the future, a gloomy disposition, and self-deprecation, among other possible indications of a depressive condition.

The Anxiety scale may evaluate such items as muscle effects and situational anxiety. Scoring high on this scale may indicate features like symptoms of panic, feeling unsteady or shaky, and performance anxiety, among other characteristics. 

The Stress scale is said to be “sensitive to levels of chronic non-specific arousal.” It can evaluate difficulty relaxing, nervousness, and irritability. Scoring high on this scale may indicate the presence of feeling tense or over-aroused and being easily startled. 

Treatment options for anxiety and depression

There may be many options available to manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one therapeutic modality that can be effective in addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression, as it can address the often overlapping features of stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Another approach that can be beneficial to those experiencing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression is mindfulness. Many CBT therapists also include mindfulness in their practice. Mindfulness generally reduces worry and rumination, which can be linked to depression. By turning one's attention to the breath and bodily sensations, one may redirect and possibly soothe distressing thoughts and learn to be more grounded in the present moment. 

Benefits of online therapy

Effectiveness of online therapy

A meta-analysis examined 64 studies of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) used in online-based therapy for depression and anxiety. Comparing the results of the combined studies of CBT delivered in person to its online equivalent, the researchers concluded that online therapy can be “effective, acceptable, and practical.”