title: Feasibility of using Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression among patients attending Accident and Emergency at a University Hospital setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of using Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depression and anxiety among patients attending accident and emergency (A & E) at a University Hospital setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study translated questionnaire of HADS was used for patients aged 18 years or above who presented to A & E at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included 257 patients as per an agreed inclusion criteria. The study quantified depression and anxiety and its association with demographic and or illness related variables using SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 257 participants, the dominant age group, ranged between 18-30 years (40.9%) with female participants (55.3%) outweigh the male among all. The overall occurrence of depression was 27.2% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 21.8 % to 32.6%) and anxiety was 23% (17.8% to 28.2%CI). Marital, educational and economic status of participants, were statistically significantly associated (p<0.05) with the levels of anxiety whereas age, marital, education, economic and employment status were associated (p<0.05) with the levels of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the A & E setting at University Hospital in Saudi Arabia, comorbid depression and anxiety is not uncommon as enumerated by using HADS. The identified cases could then be sent for appropriate psychiatric treatment promptly not only to improve quality of individual care but also to reduce the overall health care costs in local context.
authors: Hosam A. Hassan, MBBCh, MRCPI. Assistant Professor and Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine (65), College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hosam A
authors: HA
authors: Hassan
authors: M. Owais Suriya, MBBS, DTCD, MRCP (UK), MRCGP (UK) FCEM (UK). Research Fellow College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. 107, Wiggins Road S7N 5E5, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors: M Owais
authors: MO
authors: Suriya
authors: Zohair Ahmed Al-Aseri, FRCPc, EM & CC. Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine (65), College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Zohair Ahmed
authors: ZA
authors: Al-Aseri
authors: Mujtaba Hasan, MBBS, BSc, FCPS, FCCP, DTP Assistant Professor of Medicine, Consultant Physician, University College of Medicine, University of Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Mujtaba
authors: M
authors: Hasan
authors: Najeeb Khalid, MBBS (PK), MD (UK). Consultant Psychiatrist & HonSr Lecturer, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors: Najeeb
authors: N
authors: Khalid
authors: Shaffi Ahmed Sheikh, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Dept. Of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Shaffi Ahmed
authors: SA
authors: Sheikh
keywords: Accident & Emergency (A &E); Anxiety; HADS; depression