Panic and Agoraphobia Scale; PAS

BF Quiz Plus

Please take a moment to complete this quiz.

Time Remaining

Send my assessment results by email:

No Yes

Initials:

Email:

This questionnaire is not designed to provide a definitive psychological diagnosis or to take the place of a professional consultation. Please answer all questions as accurately and honestly as possible.

What are Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are sudden outbursts of anxiety, accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:

• palpitations, pounding heart, or increased heart rate
• sweating
• trembling or shaking
• dry mouth
• difficulty breathing
• feeling of choking
• chest pain or discomfort
• nausea or abdominal distress (churning in stomach)
• feeling dizzy, unsteady, faint, or light-headed
• feelings that objects are unreal (like in a dream)
• fear of losing control, "going crazy," or passing out
• fear of dying
• hot flushes or cold chills
• numbness, or tingling sensations

Panic attacks develop suddenly and increase in intensity within about 10 minutes.

The PAS is a measure of the severity of illness in patients with panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) over the past week. It is available in both clinician-administered and self-rating formats. It contains 5 sub-scales: panic attacks, agoraphobic avoidance, anticipatory anxiety, disability, and functional avoidance (health concerns).
This questionnaire is designed for people suffering from panic attacks and agoraphobia.

First, read the definition of panic attacks below; then rate the severity of your symptoms in the past week.

1. How frequently did you have panic attacks?

no panic attacks in the past week
1 panic attack in the past week
2-3 panic attacks in the past week
4-6 panic attacks in the past week
more than 6 panic attacks in the past week

2. How severe were the panic attacks in the last week?

no panic attacks in the past week
attacks were usually mild
attacks were usually moderate
attacks were usually severe
attacks were usually extremely severe

3. How long did the panic attacks last?

4. Were most of the attacks expected (occurring in feared situations) or unexpected (spontaneous)?

mostly unexpected (or no panic attacks)
more unexpected than expected
some unexpected, some expected
more expected than unexpected
mostly expected

5. In the past week, did you avoid certain situations because you feared having a panic attack or a feeling of discomfort?

no avoidance (or my attacks don’t occur in specific situations)
infrequent avoidance of feared situations
occasional avoidance of feared situations
frequent avoidance of feared situations
very frequent avoidance of feared situations

6. Please check the situation(s) you avoided or in which you developed panic attacks or a feeling of discomfort when you are not accompanied:

7. How important were the avoided situations?

8. In the past week, did you suffer from the fear of having a panic attack (anticipatory anxiety or “fear of being afraid)?”

no anticipatory anxiety
infrequent fear of having a panic attack
sometimes fear having a panic attack
frequent fear of having a panic attack
fear having a panic attack all the time

9. How strong was this “fear of fear?”

10. In the past week, did panic attacks or agoraphobia lead to an impairment in your family relationships (partner, children, etc.)?

11. In the past week, did panic attacks or agoraphobia lead to an impairment of your social life and leisure activities (for example, you weren’t able to go to a film or party)?

12. In the past week, did panic attacks or agoraphobia lead to an impairment of your work or household responsibilities?

13. In the past week, did you worry about suffering harm from your panic attacks (for example, having a heart attack or fainting)?

14. Do you sometimes believe that your doctor was wrong when he told you your symptoms* have a psychological cause? Do you believe the actual cause of these symptoms is an undiscovered physical problem?

* (like rapid heart rate, tingling sensations, or shortness of breath)

not true (rather psychic disease)
hardly true
partly true
mostly true
definitely true (rather organic disease)

Book a CBT appointment with a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Online CBT appointments work in the same way as face-to-face Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

EMDR is a highly effective treatment for PTSD, Trauma & Anxiety Conditions

Compassion Focused Therapy appointments with CFT trained specialists

Couples CBT is a practical approach to resolving relationship problems.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy appointments with qualified ACT experts

Think CBT