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The Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale: a psychometric evaluation of an interview-based scale
A Hoffart1, S Friis, E W Martinsen
1Research Institute, Modum Bads Nervesanatorium, Vikersund, Norway.
Psychiatric Developments
|January 1, 1989
Summary
The Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale (PARS) is a new tool for measuring agoraphobic avoidance. It shows good reliability and validity for assessing separation, social, and simple phobic fears in patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Agoraphobic avoidance is a core feature of anxiety disorders.
- Existing self-report measures may have limitations in assessing avoidance behaviors.
- There is a need for reliable and valid interviewer-rated instruments for phobic avoidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and psychometrically evaluate the Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale (PARS).
- To assess the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the PARS.
- To explore the dimensional structure of agoraphobic fears.
Main Methods:
- Development and psychometric evaluation of the Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale (PARS).
- Study of two inpatient samples diagnosed with unipolar depressive and/or anxiety disorders.
- Intercorrelational and factor analyses to determine the dimensional structure of fears.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis identified three dimensions of agoraphobic fears: separation, social, and simple phobic fears.
- The three subscales derived from these dimensions demonstrated good reliability, validity, and sensitivity to treatment change.
- The PARS effectively differentiates agoraphobic patients from other psychiatric groups.
Conclusions:
- The Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale (PARS) is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing agoraphobic avoidance.
- PARS is suitable for research, particularly when used alongside self-report measures.
- The scale aids in dimensional assessment of phobic fears and differential diagnosis.
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