title: The Patient Distress Scale questionnaire: factor structure and internal consistency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the factor structure and internal consistency of the Patient Distress Scale (PDS). The PDS is an 11-item questionnaire that was developed to assess acute neurological patients' awareness of emotional disturbances during early rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort of patients seen for inpatient rehabilitation following brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PDS was administered to patients and family members upon admission to the neurorehabilitation unit as part of their neuropsychological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects were heterogeneous sample of acute neurological inpatients (n = 84) and their relatives (n = 64). A principle components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded a three factor solution, which together accounted for 62% of the variance. The factor solution provided partial support for the initial structure of the PDS. Analyses revealed relatively strong reliability coefficients for patients (r = 0.82) and relatives (r = 0.86) on the PDS total score. Acceptable reliability coefficients were also found for patients and relatives on each of the factor scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary findings support the utility of the PDS as a measure of awareness in acute neurological patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA. sborgar@chw.edu
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Borgaro
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Prigatano
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alcott
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kwasnica
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cutter
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires