Validation of the hospital anxiety and depression rating scale (HADS) in an elderly psychiatric population

A study was undertaken to validate the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale in an elderly psychiatric population. The depression subscale (HAD-D) was shown to relate well to global measures of depression and to be sensitive to changes in the severity of the depression. No conclusion could be drawn about the anxiety subscale of the HAD. The advantages of this observer-assisted self-rating scale in the elderly are discussed.