Assessing the severity of panic disorder and agoraphobia: validity, reliability and objectivity of the Turkish translation of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A).

The aim of the present study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish translation of both the observer-rated (P&Ao) and self-rated (P&As) versions of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A). Discriminant and convergent validity of P&A were assessed in patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (n = 119), by comparing the P&A with the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Phobia and Anxiety sub-scales of Symptom Check List, Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Inter-rater and test-retest reliability were determined. Correlation coefficients between the CGI and the P&Ao and the P&As were .85 and .74, respectively, and .85 between the two versions of the P&A. Cronbach's alpha for the P&Ao, and the P&As was .88 and .86, respectively. The Turkish version of the P&A has yielded good psychometric properties and was found to be a reliable instrument for assessing severity in panic disorder.