Emotional Distress Assessment (21 items)NEDS-21
Professional Recommended
~7 min · 21 questions · Free partial report
This test contains sensitive content. Results are private and not shared with employers unless you explicitly consent.
A concise 21-item assessment measuring depression, anxiety, and stress — the short form of the NEDS-42, based on the tripartite model by Lovibond & Lovibond (1995).
- Rapidly screen for emotional distress across depression, anxiety, and stress domains using a streamlined 21-item format.
No signup required to start. The Partial Report is free at the end. The Complete costs $9.90, if and when you want it.
From first click to report.
The process is simple: you respond, the system calculates, and the result appears. No prior signup, no form, no waiting.
- 1
Click "Start for free"
No signup required to start. You identify yourself at the end, when you want to save the result. The test opens immediately.
- 2
Answer the questions
One at a time, scale of 1 to 5. Visible progress bar. You can pause and resume from any device after identifying yourself.
- 3
Get the Partial Report
Immediate and free. A text summary of each dimension, with indication of high, medium, or low.
- 4
Decide if you want the Complete
The Partial already delivers value. The Complete adds percentiles, norm comparison, charts, applied recommendations, and a verifiable Certificate.
- 5
Explore in the Integrative Chat
Talk to an AI about your results. Ask how your profile applies to your career, what a high score means, or compare with other tests.
The Partial is yours right away. The Complete, when it makes sense.
| Free and paid, side by side | Partial Report (free, always) | Complete Report ($9.90) |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretive text per dimension, generated from your answers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Raw score for each dimension | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-paragraph overview reading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Everything in the Partial, expanded to 3–5 paragraphs per dimension | — | ✓ |
| Percentile per dimension, compared to reference norms | — | ✓ |
| Inter-dimensional chart with accessible data table | — | ✓ |
| Applied recommendations: career, relationships, self-care | — | ✓ |
| Certificate with public verification and PDF download | — | ✓ |
- ✓Everything in the Partial, expanded to 3–5 paragraphs per dimension
- ✓Percentile per dimension, compared to reference norms
- ✓Applied recommendations: career, relationships, self-care
- ✓Certificate with public verification and PDF download
You only pay after completing the test, if you want to go beyond the Partial.
- ✓Interpretive text per dimension, generated from your answers
- ✓Raw score for each dimension
- ✓One-paragraph overview reading
Payment via PIX (instant) or credit card. Access for 1 year. After that, the report stays visible in read-only mode.
Why trust this instrument.
- Authors:
- Lovibond & Lovibond
- Year:
- 1995
- Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales.
The theory behind this test.
Tripartite Model of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
Model distinguishing depression (low positive affect, hopelessness, anhedonia), anxiety (autonomic arousal, situational anxiety), and stress (nervous tension, irritability, difficulty relaxing) as separable but correlated negative emotional states.
Learn more about this theory →Target Audience
Adults (18+) seeking a quick emotional well-being check
Questions the report answers.
- D
How is low mood affecting you?
Higher scores indicate more frequent hopelessness and anhedonia. Lower scores suggest emotional engagement and vitality.
- A
How much anxiety are you experiencing?
Higher scores reflect more physiological arousal and subjective fear. Lower scores indicate calm.
- S
How much stress are you carrying?
Higher scores indicate tension and irritability. Lower scores reflect calm and patience.
Who benefits most.
Quick check-in seekers
People who want a fast, reliable snapshot of their emotional state.
Repeat assessors
Individuals who want to track their emotional distress regularly without a lengthy questionnaire.
Frequently asked questions
What does this assessment measure?
It measures depression, anxiety, and stress — the same three constructs as the full 42-item version, in half the time.
How does this relate to the DASS-21?
This assessment measures the same tripartite constructs. All items are independently developed by NOESIS.
Should I take the 21 or 42 item version?
The 21-item version is ideal for quick screening. The 42-item version provides greater precision and is better for tracking changes over time.
Combine instruments for a fuller profile.
Each test measures different dimensions. The Integrative Chat crosses the results of all tests you complete, revealing connections no single instrument can show.
Optimism Test
~3 min·10 questions
Measure your natural tendency toward optimism or pessimism.
Start for free →Perceived Stress Assessment
~3 min·10 questions
Measure how stressed you feel about your life right now.
Start for free →Mindfulness Assessment
~4 min·15 questions
Explore your mindfulness across five key facets.
Start for free →Flourishing Assessment
~7 min·23 questions
Measure your overall well-being across the five pillars of flourishing.
Start for free →Emotional Distress Assessment (21 items)
No signup, no time limit. The Partial is free at the end.
The Complete costs $9.90, if and when you want it.
This test is a self-knowledge tool for informational purposes. It does not constitute a psychological or clinical diagnosis and does not replace evaluation by a qualified professional. The report indicates the AI model used in text generation.
© 2026 NOESIS. All items independently developed. Constructs based on the tripartite model of emotional distress (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995).