Test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change of the dimensional anxiety scales for DSM-5

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Objective This article reports on the test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change of a set of brief dimensional self-rating questionnaires for social anxiety disorder (SAD-D), specific phobia (SP-D), agoraphobia (AG-D), panic disorder (PD-D), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-D), as well as a general cross-cutting anxiety scale (Cross-D), which were developed to supplement categorical diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Methods The German versions of the dimensional anxiety scales were administered to 218 students followed up approximately 2 weeks later (Study 1) and 55 outpatients (23 with anxiety diagnoses) followed-up 1 year later (Study 2). Probable diagnostic status in students was determined by the DIA-X/M-CIDI stem screening-questionnaire (SSQ). In the clinical sample, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnoses were assessed at Time 1 using the DIA-X/M-CIDI. At Time 2, the patient-version of the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale (CGI-I) was applied to assess change. Results Good psychometric properties, including high test-retest reliability, were found for the dimensional scales except for SP-D. In outpatients, improvement at Time 2 was associated with significant decrease in PD-D, GAD-D, and Cross-D scores. Discussion Major advantages of the scales include that they are brief, concise, and based on a consistent template to measure the cognitive, physiological, and behavioral symptoms of fear and anxiety. Further replication in larger samples is needed. Given its modest psychometric properties, SP-D needs refinement. Conclusion Increasing evidence from diverse samples suggests clinical utility of the dimensional anxiety scales.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)256-267
Number of pages12
Journal CNS spectrums : the journal of the Neuroscience Education Institute
Volume19
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 24229639
ORCID /0000-0002-9687-5527/work/142235346
ORCID /0000-0002-1697-6732/work/148632196

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Anxiety, assessment, diagnostic, DSM, psychometric