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The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) is a 7-item measure of panic attack frequency, distress, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance, and functional impairment. Each item is rated 0-4, producing a total score of 0-28. Used as the IAPT ADSM for panic disorder.
Please answer the following questions about your panic attacks and related symptoms during the past week.
Use as a validated outcome measure for panic disorder severity at assessment and at regular intervals during treatment. The PDSS captures panic attack frequency, distress, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance, and functional impairment.
Present as a comprehensive but brief measure of how panic is affecting the client's life across multiple domains. Explain that tracking these different aspects helps ensure treatment is addressing all components, not just panic attack frequency.
The PDSS can be completed as a clinician-administered interview (original format) or as a self-report measure. For the self-report version, review responses collaboratively to ensure items are interpreted correctly, particularly the avoidance and functional impairment items.
The PDSS is specific to panic disorder and should not be used as a general anxiety measure. For comorbid presentations, supplement with appropriate disorder-specific measures. Scores should be interpreted in the context of the client's broader clinical presentation.
Monitor the profile of change across items, not just the total score. A client whose panic attack frequency drops but whose avoidance remains high may need targeted exposure work. The anticipatory anxiety item often lags behind other improvements and is a useful indicator of residual catastrophic beliefs.
Scores are calculated automatically when your client completes this measure (range 0–28).
Suitable for clients working with outcome-measure, panic, pdss, validated, iapt-adsm. This tool can be used as a standalone worksheet or as part of a structured homework plan.
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The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-report measure of depression severity. Each item is rated 0-3 (not at all to nearly every day), producing a total score of 0-27. It is the IAPT core depression measure and is administered at every clinical contact.
The Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) is a 17-item self-report measure of social anxiety. Each item is rated 0-4, producing a total score of 0-68. Used as the IAPT ADSM for social anxiety disorder.
The PHQ-15 is a 15-item somatic symptom severity measure. Each item is rated 0-2, producing a total score of 0-30. Used as the IAPT measure for medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).
The Chalder Fatigue Scale is an 11-item measure of fatigue severity. Each item is rated 0-3 using Likert scoring, producing a total score of 0-33. Used as the IAPT measure for CFS/ME presentations.