Self-Rating Anxiety Scale

Anxiety Status Inventory. The Anxiety Status Inventory (ASI) scale is the professional-rated version of the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Both tests (ASI... 

Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The SAS test requires approximately 5 to 10... 

Some studies found kava to be effective using only 2 acute doses (preoperatively), while others found benefit after chronic doses (Bhate et al. 1989 Lehmann et al. 1989 Volz and Kieser 1997). Another interesting study found kavain to be equivalent in efficacy to the benzodiazepine oxazepam on standard measures of anxiety (Anxiety Status Inventoiy and Zung s Self-Rating Anxiety Scale) (Lindenberg and Pitule-Schodel 1990). There were no serious side effects reported in the clinical studies reviewed by Pittler and Ernst (2000). 

Pharmacotherapy of SAD should lead to improvement in physiologic symptoms of anxiety and fear, functionality, and overall well-being.26 Many patients may not achieve full remission of symptoms but should have significant improvement. Monitor patients weekly during acute treatment (e.g., initiation and titration of pharmacotherapy). Once patients are stabilized, monitor monthly. Inquire about adverse effects and SAD symptoms at each visit. To aid in assessing improvement, ask patients to keep a diary to record fears, anxiety levels, and behaviors in social situations.26 You may administer the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) to rate SAD severity and change, and the Social Phobia Inventory can be used as a self-assessment tool for SAD patients. 

Beck Depression Inventory. The Beck Depression Inventory (Beck) test may be used to measure the depth of depression as a rapid screen for depressed patients. It is a self-rating scale of 21 items (13 in a shortened form), with each item rated on a four-point scale. It measures the immediate present and has been used in antidepressant medicine trials. The original 21-item scale can be completed in about 10 minutes and the test is able to discriminate between anxiety and depression. No subtests are present in the Beck. 

Hopkins Symptom Checklist. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) is a scale that has been used to measure the presence and intensity of various symptoms in outpatient neurotic patients. It is a 58-item self-rating scale and has generally been replaced by the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90). It measures the symptoms during the past week and requires approximately 20 minutes to complete. There are five subtests somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety. 

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) measures fear, anxiety and avoidant behavior in 24 commonly feared social situations and performances. There are 13 performance-related items and 11 items that rate the social situations (Heimberg et al, 1999). The LSAS is the standard established outcome measure in most of the pivotal trials for social anxiety. Cut-offs of 30 for social anxiety disorder and 60 for its generalized subtype on the LSAS total scores represent a balance of specificity and sensitivity. There are two valid versions of the LSAS a clinician-administered version and a self-rating version (Fresco et al.. 2001). 

The Fear Questionnaire (FQ) is a 24-item self-rated scale used mainly for assessments in phobias. One component of the scale evaluates phobic behavior associated with a number of situations, whereas another component assesses symptoms of anxiety, depression and general distress caused by phobia (Marks and Mathews, 1979). The social phobia, strongly related to social anxiety, and most of the subscales are significantly related to neuroticism. The FQ has been utilized in several trials of social anxiety disorder. 

During the acute phase of treatment, patients should be seen weekly while the drug dosage is titrated. Once the patient responds and the dosage is stabilized, the patient can be seen monthly. At each visit, the patient should be asked about adverse effects and improvement in symptoms. The patient should be instructed to keep a diary to record fear levels, physical symptoms, cognitions, and anxious behaviors in actual exposures to social situations. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale is a clinician-rated scale that rates clinical severity and change in SAD that can be used to monitor response. Patients can use the Social Phobia Inventory for self-assessment of SAD symptoms. Full remission is a complete resolution of symptoms across the three... 

Self-Report Symptom Inventory. Each of the 90 items in the SCL-90 uses a five-point scale of distress. It was designed as a general measure of symptomatology for use by adult psychiatric outpatients in either a research or clinical setting. It rates either the present or previous week. It requires about 15 minutes for the patient to complete this form and about 5 minutes for a technician to verify identifying information. This test is sensitive to drug effects and may be used with inpatients. Nine subscales are measured somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, anger-hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. 

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