Introduction: The main challenges faced by adolescents with diabetes are the physiological decline of metabolic control, and the lack of concern and self care behaviour (Hampson et. al, 2000). Identifying depression in this group is therefore essential to allow early psychological and behavioural interventions, encourage positive attitudes towards self care and consequently help prevent the progression of complications.

Aim: To utilise the 42-DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) questionnaire as a tool to identify and measure depression, anxiety and stress, in adolescents and young adults (15-25 years) attending the Nepean Transition Diabetes Service.

Method:The 42-DASS questionnaire was trialled for a 6 month period from November 2011 to April 2012, targeting all those attending their routine appointments at Nepean Transition Diabetes Service. They were instructed to complete each question spontaneously by indicating on the form the extent of their experience on the four-point scale. Those with scores in the severe to extremely severe range (i.e. D≥21, A≥15, and S≥26) in any of the subscales were deemed to require psychological intervention.

Results: The baseline data excluded adolescents with newly diagnosed diabetes, and was summarised for males and females in Table 1 below. All of the mean subscale scores were within normal limits. However there were 12% adolescents (n=8) with abnormal scores which had fallen into the severe to extremely severe range; 88% (n=7) of these were female.

Conclusion: While the DASS subscales were within normal limits as a group, females represent a high risk group for intervention.