Scale Overview
The Panic Disorder Severity Scale – Self-Report (PDSS-SR) was developed by M. Katherine Shear, Timothy A. Brown, David H. Barlow, Robin Money, Dianne E. Sholomskas, Scott W. Woods, Jack M. Gorman, Linda A. Papp (1997). It is designed to measure Panic Disorder Severity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 7 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = None / Not at all, 1 = Mild / Slight, 2 = Moderate / Significant, 3 = Severe / Substantial, 4 = Extreme / Incapacitating.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 28. Interpretation guidelines:
- Mild / Normal: 0 – 7
- Moderate (suggests need for formal assessment): 8 – 10
- Marked: 11 – 15
- Severe: 16 – 28
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.64.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.