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Panic and Agoraphobia Scale
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About Panic and Agoraphobia Scale
Scale Name
Panic and Agoraphobia Scale
Author Details
Borwin Bandelow
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS) is a specialized psychological assessment tool developed to measure the severity of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, aligning with diagnostic criteria from both DSM-IV and ICD-10 frameworks. Introduced in 1999 by Borwin Bandelow, a prominent researcher in anxiety disorders, the PAS was crafted to address the gap in precise, targeted tools for evaluating the complex interplay of panic attacks and agoraphobic avoidance. Its primary purpose is to quantify symptom severity and monitor treatment outcomes, making it a vital resource for clinicians and researchers working with individuals experiencing these debilitating conditions.
The PAS is available in two formats: a 13-item self-rated version (P&As) and an observer-rated version (P&Ao), each scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = “not at all” to 4 = “extremely”). It covers five key domains: panic attacks (frequency and intensity), agoraphobic avoidance (fear-driven evasion of situations), anticipatory anxiety (worry about future attacks), disability (impact on work and social life), and health concerns (fear of physical harm from symptoms). Total scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater severity. The scale’s design allows for a nuanced assessment, capturing not just the presence of symptoms but their functional impact, which is critical for tailoring interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, or pharmacotherapy.
Psychologists and clinicians favor the PAS for its clarity and sensitivity to change, enabling it to track progress in both short-term trials and long-term management. Its brevity, particularly the observer-rated version, which takes only 5-10 minutes, makes it practical for busy clinical settings, while its robust validation across diverse populations ensures broad applicability. By offering a structured yet comprehensive snapshot of panic and agoraphobia, the PAS empowers professionals to make informed decisions, fostering hope for individuals navigating these challenging disorders.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale from an authorized source, such as Hogrefe Publishing or academic databases, ensuring compliance with usage rights.
- Explain the purpose of the PAS to the respondent, noting that it assesses the severity of panic and agoraphobia symptoms to guide treatment or research insights.
- Provide instructions, asking the respondent (for self-rated) to rate each of the 13 items based on their experiences over the past week, or guiding the clinician (for observer-rated) to score based on a structured interview.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-10 minutes for the observer-rated version and 8-12 minutes for the self-rated version, depending on the respondent’s pace.
- Administer the scale in a private, distraction-free environment, using paper or digital formats, to ensure accurate and comfortable reporting.
Reliability and Validity
The Panic and Agoraphobia Scale exhibits strong psychometric properties, making it a dependable measure for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Internal consistency is high, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.88 for the self-rated version and 0.85-0.90 for the observer-rated version, indicating cohesive item performance. Test-retest reliability is robust, with correlations of 0.78-0.84 over short intervals, reflecting stable scores in untreated conditions.
Convergent validity is well-documented, with the PAS showing strong correlations with established anxiety measures like the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (r = 0.65-0.75) and Clinical Global Impression Scale (r = 0.74-0.85). Discriminant validity is supported by lower correlations with depression-focused scales, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (r < 0.45), ensuring specificity to panic and agoraphobia. Criterion validity is evidenced by its ability to differentiate clinical populations from controls and its sensitivity to treatment effects, with significant score reductions observed post-interventions like CBT or imipramine. These qualities affirm the PAS’s precision and utility in clinical and research settings.
Available Versions
13-Items
Reference
Bandelow, B. (1999). Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS). Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PAS measure?
It assesses the severity of panic disorder and agoraphobia across five domains.
Who can use the PAS?
Clinicians and researchers trained in psychological assessment can use it.
How long does the PAS take to complete?
About 5-10 minutes for observer-rated, 8-12 minutes for self-rated.
Is the PAS available in multiple languages?
Yes, it’s translated into 16 languages, including Spanish and German.
Can the PAS track treatment progress?
Yes, it’s highly sensitive to changes from therapies or medications.
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