Panic disorder: 4 questionnaires and rating scales
Panic disorder questionnaires are psychometric tools that measure the frequency and severity of panic attacks as well as anticipatory anxiety. They support screening, severity assessment and treatment monitoring.
PAQ-IV
Panic Attack Questionnaire-IV (PAQ-IV)
The PAQ-IV is a self-report questionnaire that gathers detailed information on the frequency, severity and characteristics of panic attacks, in accordance with DSM-IV criteria. It helps distinguish panic disorder from other anxiety disorders and provides clinicians with essential data for diagnosis and for developing a treatment plan.
PDSS
Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS)
The PDSS is a tool used to assess the severity of symptoms associated with panic disorder. It is designed to measure different aspects of panic attacks and their impact on the individual's overall well-being.
APPQ
Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ)
The Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) is a self-report tool designed to measure the intensity of panic symptoms, as well as agoraphobic, social, and interoceptive avoidance in adults. It is particularly useful for differential diagnosis and for assessing the severity of phobias and panic disorders.
PAS-SR
Panic-Agoraphobic Spectrum Self-Report (PAS-SR)
The PAS-SR is a self-report questionnaire designed to broadly explore the panic-agoraphobic spectrum in adults. It is not limited to the categorical criteria for panic disorder or agoraphobia and also records subclinical, atypical, temperamental and associated manifestations present over the lifetime. The tool is useful for the clinical identification of anxiety dimensions related to the panic-agoraphobic spectrum, for the study of comorbidities, particularly with mood disorders, and for refining the symptom profile beyond a strict DSM diagnosis. It can help the psychologist objectively assess the lifetime symptom burden, structure the clinical interview and identify areas of vulnerability that are often underestimated.
Frequently asked questions
Panic attack or panic disorder?
A panic attack is a discrete episode of intense fear; panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected attacks along with persistent worry about their return.
Which scale should I choose for panic disorder?
It depends on your goal: attack frequency, overall severity or anticipatory anxiety. Each questionnaire listed here shows its description, number of items and administration time.
Should co-occurring agoraphobia be assessed?
Often, yes: agoraphobia frequently accompanies panic disorder, and assessing it guides treatment and follow-up.
Panic disorder in clinical practice
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, followed by persistent worry about having more attacks or by a change in behavior related to the attacks.
A panic attack combines an abrupt surge of intense fear with physical symptoms (palpitations, feelings of choking, dizziness). The disorder often comes with agoraphobia and anticipatory anxiety.
- DSM-5 separates the panic attack (a specifier that can apply to many disorders) from panic disorder as a diagnosis.
- Anticipatory anxiety and avoidance behaviors maintain the disorder and worsen its impact.
- A numerical score supports severity measurement and the monitoring of treatment effectiveness.