Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2014
Objectives: To validate the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) in an outpatient alcohol treatment centre.
Methods: Forty three patients referred to an alcohol outpatient treatment centre completed the HAD which was validated against the external criteria of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Clinical Anxiety Scale.
Results: The HAD performed well operating at a cut-off of 7/8 for the depression scale and for the anxiety scale of the HAD the optimal cut-off value was 10/11.
Conclusion: The HAD is acceptable to patients and its use in alcohol treatment clinics is recommended as a screening instrument for anxiety and depression which can easily be administered by non-psychiatrists.