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Reliability and validity of the Panic Disorder Severity Scale: replication and extension
M K Shear1, P Rucci, J Williams
1Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. shearmk@msx.upmc.edu
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|October 10, 2001
Summary
The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) is a reliable tool for assessing panic disorder. A score of eight effectively screens for current panic disorder symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) is a seven-item instrument designed to measure the overall severity of Panic Disorder.
- Previous research indicated good psychometric properties in patients with mild agoraphobia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the reliability and validity of the PDSS.
- To establish a cut-off score for differentiating current DSM-IV Panic Disorder.
- To determine the factor structure of the PDSS.
Main Methods:
- 104 psychiatric outpatients, including 54 with Panic Disorder, completed a structured diagnostic assessment and the PDSS interview.
- The PDSS was administered a second time within 3-17 days to assess reliability.
Main Results:
- Reliability and validity of the PDSS were confirmed.
- A one-factor model provided a good fit for the data.
- A cut-off score of eight demonstrated 83.3% sensitivity and 64% specificity for identifying current panic disorder.
Conclusions:
- The PDSS is a simple and reliable instrument suitable for Panic Disorder research.
- A PDSS cut-off score of eight can aid in screening for diagnosis-level panic symptoms in primary care settings.