Snell, Deborah LFaulkner, Josh WSiegert, RJHonan, Cynthia2025-10-292025-10-292025-10-21Brain Impair, ISSN: 1443-9646 (Print); 1839-5252 (Online), CSIRO Publishing, 26(4). doi: 10.1071/IB250251443-96461839-5252http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20019BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the psychometric properties of a 10-item version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-10) in a mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) sample. METHODS: Treatment-seeking adults (n = 354; mean age 36.3 years, 62% women) were recruited from outpatient rehabilitation services in New Zealand. Participants completed the DASS-10 on average 11.5 (15.0) weeks after their injury. Dimensionality, reliability, person separation index and differential item functioning of the DASS-10 were examined using Rasch analyses. RESULTS: Initial fit to the Rasch model for the 10-item measure was good (χ2 = 78.6, d.f. = 70, P = 0.22), with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.89, person separation index 0.86) and acceptable unidimensionality. There was no evidence of differential item functioning for any of the person factors tested (age, gender, ethnicity, education, mental health history). CONCLUSION: These findings provide preliminary support for the DASS-10 as a psychometrically sound measure of psychological distress for adults seeking treatment following mild TBI. The DASS-10 for mild TBI may be a helpful brief measure to triage mental health needs among persons referred to outpatient services after mild TBI.© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)DASS-10concussion recoveryitem response theorymild traumatic brain injurypsychological factorspsychological symptomspsychometrics5201 Applied and Developmental Psychology4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science5203 Clinical and Health Psychology4203 Health Services and SystemsMental IllnessTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI)Traumatic Head and Spine InjuryDepressionMental HealthNeurosciencesBehavioral and Social SciencePhysical Injury - Accidents and Adverse EffectsBrain DisordersClinical Research6.6 Psychological and behaviouralMental health3 Good Health and Well Being11 Medical and Health Sciences17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences32 Biomedical and clinical sciences42 Health sciences52 PsychologyHumansFemaleMaleAdultAnxietyMiddle AgedDepressionPsychometricsStress, PsychologicalReproducibility of ResultsBrain ConcussionPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesNew ZealandYoung AdultJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1071/IB25025