Evaluation of the psychometric properties of two short forms of the social interaction anxiety scale and the social phobia scale.
The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale are widely used measures of social anxiety. Using data from individuals with social anxiety disorder (n = 435) and nonanxious controls (n = 86), we assessed the psychometric properties of two independently developed short forms of these scales. Indices of convergent and discriminant validity, diagnostic specificity, sensitivity to treatment, and readability were examined. Comparisons of the two sets of short forms to each other and the original long forms were conducted. Both sets of scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency in the patient sample, showed expected patterns of correlation with measures of related and unrelated constructs, adequately discriminated individuals with social anxiety disorder from those without, and showed decreases in scores over the course of cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or pharmacotherapy. However, some significant differences in scale performance were noted. Implications for the clinical assessment of social anxiety are discussed.
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Allura L
AL
Le Blanc
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Laura C
LC
Bruce
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA heimberg@temple.edu.
Richard G
RG
Heimberg
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, USA.
Debra A
DA
Hope
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
Carlos
C
Blanco
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
Franklin R
FR
Schneier
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Michael R
MR
Liebowitz
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Social Interaction Anxiety Scale; Social Phobia Scale; anxiety; measurement; social anxiety; social anxiety disorder; social phobia