A Validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Dipression Scale

Abstract

This study attempted to validate a Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) at universities and working places.One hundred and six female students and 62 working women in Osaka and Kyoto were surveyed during 1993. Item-remainder correlation and internal consistency were examined to determine reliability. Concurrent validity was examined using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and Zung's self rating depression scale (SDS).The prevealence of emotional disorder ranged from 19% to 26% in both populations. The Cronbach' alpha coefficients were 0.8 for the anxiety subscale and more than 0.5 for the depression subscale. Spearman's correlations of the anxiety subscale scores and the STAI were 0.65 for students, adn 0.63 for workers. The correlations of depression subscale scores and SDS were 0.46 for students, and 0.50 for workers.From these results, a Japanese version of the HAD is considered to be reliable and validable as a screening method for emotional disorders in females.