Are three 100-mm visual-analogue scales reliable and valid for measuring anxiety, depression, and distress compared to standardized measures?
Visual-analogue scales for anxiety, depression, and distress are reliable and valid alternatives when standard measures are infeasible.
The authors describe three 100-mm visual-analogue scales to measure anxiety, depression, and distress. Test-retest reliability coefficients, correlations within analogue scales, and correlations between analogue scales and standardized measures of anxiety, depression, and distress provided preliminary evidence to support the use of visual-analogue scales when other standard measures are infeasible. Sensitivity to diurnal fluctuation in reported feelings was also documented.
Cella et al. (1986) studied this question.