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Panic Disorder Severity Scale
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About Panic Disorder Severity Scale
Scale Name
Panic Disorder Severity Scale
Author Details
M. Katherine Shear, Timothy A. Brown, David H. Barlow, Roy Money, Diane E. Sholomskas, Scott W. Woods, Jack M. Gorman, and Laszlo A. Papp
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) is a meticulously developed psychological assessment tool designed to measure the severity of panic disorder symptoms in clinical and research settings. Introduced in 1997 by M. Katherine Shear and colleagues, the PDSS was created through a collaborative effort across multiple research centers to provide a standardized, reliable method for evaluating panic disorder as defined by DSM-IV criteria. This clinician-administered scale focuses on capturing the multidimensional nature of panic disorder, including the frequency and intensity of panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and their impact on daily functioning, making it an essential resource for professionals working with individuals affected by this condition.
The PDSS consists of seven items, each rated on a 5-point scale (0 = “none” to 4 = “extreme”), covering key domains: frequency of panic attacks, distress during attacks, anticipatory anxiety, agoraphobic avoidance, situational avoidance, impairment in work functioning, and impairment in social functioning. Total scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating greater severity. Its structured interview format ensures consistency, while its brevity allows for efficient use in busy clinical environments. Developed with input from diverse patient samples, the PDSS is sensitive to symptom fluctuations, making it ideal for tracking treatment outcomes, such as those from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), pharmacotherapy, or combined interventions.
For psychologists and psychiatrists, the PDSS offers a clear, comprehensive snapshot of panic disorder’s impact, enabling precise diagnosis, treatment planning, and progress monitoring. Its focus on functional impairment sets it apart, highlighting not just symptoms but their real-world consequences. The scale’s widespread adoption and translation into multiple languages reflect its global relevance, empowering clinicians to support individuals in regaining control over their lives with tailored, evidence-based strategies.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Panic Disorder Severity Scale from a reputable source, such as peer-reviewed journals or authorized psychological publishers, ensuring ethical use.
- Explain the purpose of the PDSS to the patient, emphasizing that it assesses panic disorder symptoms and their impact to guide treatment or research.
- Provide instructions, guiding the clinician to ask standardized questions for each of the seven items, rating responses based on the patient’s experiences over the past month.
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-10 minutes, depending on the patient’s verbosity and the clinician’s familiarity with the scale.
- Administer the scale in a private, calm setting, using a structured interview approach to ensure accurate and comfortable reporting.
Reliability and Validity
The Panic Disorder Severity Scale demonstrates robust psychometric properties, affirming its reliability and validity for assessing panic disorder. Internal consistency is strong, with Cronbach’s alpha values typically ranging from 0.85 to 0.90, indicating cohesive measurement across its seven items. Inter-rater reliability is excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.87-0.91, reflecting consistent scoring among trained clinicians. Test-retest reliability is also solid, with correlations of 0.71-0.83 over short intervals in stable conditions.
Convergent validity is evidenced by strong correlations with related measures, such as the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (r = 0.60-0.70) and Clinical Global Impression Scale (r = 0.65-0.75). Discriminant validity is supported by weaker associations with depression scales, like the Beck Depression Inventory (r < 0.40), ensuring specificity to panic disorder. Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to distinguish panic disorder patients from those with other anxiety disorders and its sensitivity to treatment effects, with significant score reductions post-CBT or SSRIs. These properties establish the PDSS as a precise and effective tool.
Available Versions
7-Items
Reference
Shear, M. K., Brown, T. A., Barlow, D. H., Money, R., Sholomskas, D. E., Woods, S. W., … & Papp, L. A. (1997). Multicenter collaborative panic disorder severity scale. American journal of psychiatry, 154(11), 1571-1575.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PDSS measure?
It measures the severity of panic disorder symptoms and their functional impact.
Who administers the PDSS?
Trained clinicians, such as psychologists or psychiatrists, administer it.
How long does the PDSS take to complete?
It takes about 5-10 minutes.
Can the PDSS monitor treatment progress?
Yes, it’s highly sensitive to changes from therapy or medication.
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