title: Validation of the electronic Visual Analogue Scale of Anxiety.
abstract: Currently, the use of electronic scales is increasing rapidly, which is not surprising considering its accuracy, the ease of use and the increased compliance. The value of Visual Analogue Scales as a mean to objectify subjective variables has long been recognised. The current study aimed to validate the electronic Visual Analogue Scale of Anxiety (eVAAS). Seventy-one subjects, control subjects (n=46) and Panic Disorder patients (n=25), filled out the paper VAAS and the eVAAS in a randomised order. Panic was provoked using 35% CO(2) inhalation allowing us to include maximal scores in our analyses. The correlation between eVAAS and pVAAS was very strong and highly significant (r=0.98, p<0.001). pVAAS scores were slightly higher than eVAAS scores (p<0.001), but this difference is clinically unimportant. The VAAS established on a tablet PC is a useful and valid measure of anxiety and holds intrinsic benefits for anxiety assessment.
authors.affiliation: School of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Marlies.vanduinen@PN.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Duinen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rickelt
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide