PDSS: Panic Disorder Severity Scale. A 7-item clinical tool designed to measure the severity of panic disorder.
1. Panic Attack Frequency
2. Distress During Attacks
3. Anticipatory Anxiety
4. Agoraphobic Avoidance
5. Interoceptive Avoidance
6. Work Impairment
7. Social Impairment
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Clinician-rated assessment of panic disorder severity and impairment
Evaluation of panic attack frequency, distress, and anticipatory anxiety
Monitoring treatment outcomes for CBT or pharmacotherapy in panic disorder
Assessment of phobic avoidance and social/work impairment from panic
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scoring Logic
The PDSS consists of 7 items, each rated 0–4. Items assess panic frequency, distress during panic, anticipatory anxiety, agoraphobic avoidance, interoceptive avoidance, and overall impairment. Total score ranges from 0 to 28.
Shear MK et al. • Am J Psychiatry.. 1997;154(11):1571-5. Validated across multiple centers with excellent internal consistency and sensitivity to change.
