Modification of the Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire (BSIQ-M): validity and reliability

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The catastrophic misinterpretation model suggests panic attacks stem from misinterpreting bodily sensations as dangerous.
• Existing questionnaires, like the Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire (BSIQ), have limitations in measuring this misinterpretation accurately.
• These limitations include difficulty distinguishing catastrophic misinterpretations from masked fear responses and inadequate coverage of DSM-IV panic criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a modified version of the BSIQ to address its limitations.
• To improve the measurement of catastrophic misinterpretation in individuals with panic disorder.
• To enhance the content validity and reliability of assessing panic attack precursors.

Main Methods:

• A modified Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire (BSIQ) was created.
• The revised questionnaire was administered to non-anxious controls (n=34) and individuals diagnosed with panic disorder (n=38).
• Psychometric properties including internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and construct validity were assessed.

Main Results:

• The revised BSIQ demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency.
• High inter-rater reliability was achieved for the modified questionnaire.
• The study confirmed good construct validity for the revised BSIQ, indicating it effectively measures catastrophic misinterpretation.

Conclusions:

• The modified BSIQ is a valuable improvement over the original questionnaire.
• The revised instrument offers enhanced reliability and validity for assessing catastrophic misinterpretations in panic disorder.
• This development aids in a more accurate understanding of the cognitive factors contributing to panic attacks.