title: Assessing the severity of panic disorder and agoraphobia: validity, reliability and objectivity of the Turkish translation of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A).
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish translation of both the observer-rated (P&Ao) and self-rated (P&As) versions of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A). Discriminant and convergent validity of P&A were assessed in patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (n = 119), by comparing the P&A with the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Phobia and Anxiety sub-scales of Symptom Check List, Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Inter-rater and test-retest reliability were determined. Correlation coefficients between the CGI and the P&Ao and the P&As were .85 and .74, respectively, and .85 between the two versions of the P&A. Cronbach's alpha for the P&Ao, and the P&As was .88 and .86, respectively. The Turkish version of the P&A has yielded good psychometric properties and was found to be a reliable instrument for assessing severity in panic disorder.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tural
authors.forename: Hüray
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fidane
authors.forename: Tunc
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alkin
authors.forename: Borwin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bandelow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014421:Turkey