Web-based screening for Panic Disorder: Validity of a single-item instrument

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Digital Health
• Mental Health Screening

Background:

• Panic Disorder (PD) presents significant socioeconomic burdens.
• Web-based screening tools are crucial for early PD detection.
• A need exists for specific online instruments to measure PD symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a single-item online screening tool, the Web Screening Questionnaire for Panic (WSQ-Panic).
• To assess the WSQ-Panic's utility in detecting current panic symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 171 participants completed the WSQ-Panic online.
• Telephone interviews using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-I) served as the gold standard.
• Statistical analysis included sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and ROC curve analysis.

Main Results:

• The WSQ-Panic achieved a sensitivity of 0.83 and specificity of 0.74.
• Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 0.46; Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 0.94.
• Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) was 0.82, indicating moderate accuracy; the optimal cut-off is ≥2.

Conclusions:

• The WSQ-Panic demonstrates acceptable accuracy as an internet-based screening tool for panic symptoms.
• It is comparable to longer instruments and useful for identifying individuals experiencing distress.
• The tool is valuable for screening in online self-help treatments and research settings.