Evaluation of the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2003 Mar;107(3):216-21. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00062.x.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS).

Method: We administered HADS to 685 participants (256 controls and 429 patients with five different diagnoses). The reliability of the instrument was assessed by a test-retest study. Construct validity studies were carried out through item-subscale correlation and factor analysis for the whole group and by each of the five different diagnoses. Three instruments were used as external criteria to assess concurrent validity.

Results: HADS test-retest reliability presented correlation coefficients above 0.85. The internal consistency was high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86 (anxiety) and 0.86 (depression). Factor analysis showed a clear two-factor structure for all groups. The results showed high concurrent validity with the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and with the mental domains of the Short-Form Health Survey.

Conclusion: The Spanish version of the HADS demonstrated good reliability and validity when used in medical patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / standards*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spain
  • Surveys and Questionnaires