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The Agoraphobia Scale: an evaluation of its reliability and validity
1Psychiatric Research Center, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|January 1, 1990
Summary
The Agoraphobia Scale (AS) effectively measures anxiety and avoidance in agoraphobia patients. This validated tool shows high reliability and sensitivity to treatment changes, aiding clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Assessment
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Agoraphobia presents significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
- Validated self-report measures are crucial for assessing agoraphobia severity and treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Agoraphobia Scale (AS).
- To assess the reliability, validity, and treatment sensitivity of the AS.
Main Methods:
- The Agoraphobia Scale (AS) comprises 20 items rated for anxiety/discomfort and avoidance.
- Concurrent validity was assessed against existing agoraphobia measures (Mobility Inventory, Fear Questionnaire).
- Predictive validity was examined through behavioral tests; discriminant validity compared agoraphobic, normal, and simple phobia samples.
Main Results:
- The AS demonstrated high internal consistency and significant correlations with other measures.
- The scale showed predictive validity in behavioral tests and discriminated between diagnostic groups.
- The AS was sensitive to changes observed after behavioral treatment.
Conclusions:
- The Agoraphobia Scale (AS) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing agoraphobia.
- The AS serves as an effective state and outcome measure for clinical use.
- The scale's sensitivity to change supports its utility in treatment evaluation.