Assessment of beliefs about psychotropic medication and psychotherapy: development of a measure for patients with anxiety disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study presents the psychometric properties of a brief measure to assess beliefs about psychotropic medications and psychotherapy among patients with anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Data were collected on a large sample of primary care patients with a range of anxiety disorders, as part of the Collaborative Care for Anxiety and Panic study. Factor analyses using principal axis factoring with Varimax rotations were used to determine the factor structure of the beliefs scale. Internal consistency, concurrent validity and predictive validity of the resulting subscales were examined.


RESULTS
Two subscales emerged, one reflecting beliefs about psychotropic medications and the other assessing beliefs about psychotherapy. Both showed strong internal consistency and concurrent validity. The beliefs about psychotropic medication demonstrated strong predictive validity.


CONCLUSIONS
This measure may be a useful tool for assessing treatment beliefs among patients with anxiety disorders toward the provision of more quality treatment for this population. Its brevity may make it particularly useful in primary health care settings.
Bystritsky
Alexander
A
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Wagner
Amy W
AW
Russo
Joan E
JE
Stein
Murray B
MB
Sherbourne
Cathy D
CD
Craske
Michelle G
MG
Roy-Byrne
Peter P
PP
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001290:Attitude; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs