Description

The Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS-14) is an assessment instrument designed to measure the severity of panic and agoraphobia symptoms. It examines experiences such as panic attacks, concern about future attacks, and avoidance of situations or places associated with anxiety.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PAS-14 is to assess the severity and impact of panic and agoraphobic symptoms, providing useful information for clinical assessment and treatment planning. It can also be used to monitor changes in symptoms during therapeutic interventions.

Scoring and Data Analysis

Items are typically rated using a Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. Statistical analysis may include descriptive statistics, correlations, and comparisons between groups, depending on the objectives of the study.

Psychometric evaluation may also include internal consistency analysis using Cronbach’s alpha, validity testing, and cross-cultural assessment to examine the instrument’s suitability across different populations.

References

Craske MG, Barlow DH. Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: A Clinical Guide. New York: Guilford Press; 2006.

Klein DF. The Anxiety Disorders: A Diagnostic and Treatment Handbook. New York: Wiley; 1993.

Löwe B, Spitzer RL, Zipfel S, Herzog W. Assessing depression and anxiety: A new self-report scale. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2002;63(1):41–50.

Tags: PAS-14, Panic, Agoraphobia, Panic Attacks, Anxiety Disorders, Avoidance, Mental Health, Clinical Assessment