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The use of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in an outpatient alcohol treatment clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Christopher A Vassilas
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol, 41 St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8DZ, England
Andrew Nicol
Affiliation:
Burden Neurological Institute, Stoke Lane, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1QT, England
Clare Short
Affiliation:
Barrow Hospital, Barrow Guerney, Bristol, BS16 1QT, England

Abstract

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.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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