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Defining the Optimal Threshold Score for Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum - Short Version (PAS-SV) Questionnaire in Clinical and General Population
Benedetta Nardi1
Chiara Bonelli1
Enrico Massimetti2
Ivan Mirko Cremone1
Barbara Carpita1
Authors Info & Affiliations
Abstract
Background
The Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum - Short Version (PAS-SV) Questionnaire evaluates a wide range of symptoms belonging to panic disorder and agoraphobia (PAD), including both full-threshold and sub-threshold symptoms. While the PAS-SV has proven useful for quantifying panic-agoraphobic symptoms, it currently lacks a validated diagnostic threshold.
Aim
This study aimed to determine the optimal cut-off score on the PAS-SV for identifying the presence of clinically significant PAD.
Methods
The study included 54 patients diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia (PAD) and 54 healthy controls (HC). Trained psychiatrists conducted clinical diagnoses based on DSM-5 criteria and subsequently assessed participants using the PAS-SV.
Results
The PAD group exhibited significantly higher PAS-SV scores compared to the healthy control group. The most effective cut-off score for distinguishing subjects with PAD was determined to be 16, demonstrating satisfactory levels of specificity and sensitivity.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that a cut-off score of 16 on the PAS-SV is the most discriminative in identifying individuals with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia.
