Psychometric evaluation of a visual analog scale for the assessment of anxiety.
BACKGROUND
Fast-acting medications for the management of anxiety are important to patients and society. Measuring early onset, however, requires a sensitive and clinically responsive tool. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of a patient-reported Global Anxiety-Visual Analog Scale (GA-VAS).


METHODS
Data from a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of lorazepam and paroxetine in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder were analyzed to assess the reliability, validity, responsiveness, and utility of the GA-VAS. The GA-VAS was completed at clinic visits and at home during the first week of treatment. Targeted psychometric analyses--test-retest reliabilities, validity correlations, responsiveness statistics, and minimum important differences--were conducted.


RESULTS
The GA-VAS correlates well with other anxiety measures, at Week 4, r=0.60 (p<0.0001) with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and r=0.74 (p<0.0001) with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale. In terms of convergent and divergent validity, the GA-VAS correlated -0.54 (p<0.0001), -0.48 (p<0.0001), and -0.68 (p<0.0001) with the SF-36 Emotional Role, Social Function, and Mental Health subscales, respectively, but correlated much lower with the SF-36 physical functioning subscales. Preliminary minimum important difference estimates cluster between 10 and 15 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The GA-VAS is capable of validly and effectively capturing a reduction in anxiety as quickly as 24 hours post-dose.
RTI Health Solutions, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27707, USA. vwilliams@rti.org
Valerie S L
VS
Williams
Robert J
RJ
Morlock
Douglas
D
Feltner
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
D017374:Paroxetine; D008140:Lorazepam