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Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS)

Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) Test

Understand how severe your panic symptoms are in about 2 minutes. Seven quick items help track progress over time and guide more focused care.

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Questions: 72 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,415 views

2,410 completions

2,124 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

12/28

Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS)

Measures the overall severity of panic disorder symptoms and related impairment to track symptom burden and changes over time.

Low severity

Moderate severity

High severity

0 – 9: Low severity | 10 – 18: Moderate severity | 19 – 28: High severity

A score of 12 falls in the Moderate severity range, indicating a noticeable level of panic-related symptoms and functional impact.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People in active treatment

44%OF USERS

Individuals already seeing a therapist or psychiatrist use it to track week-to-week changes in panic symptoms and treatment response.

Patients reviewing medication

33%OF USERS

People adjusting, starting, or tapering medication take it to quantify symptom severity and side effects in daily functioning.

Those with recent flare-ups

23%OF USERS

People with a known history of panic disorder use it after a stressful period to gauge how much symptoms are affecting their life right now.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Severity Scale for Panic Disorder (SSfPD)

Average

17.4

Normal range

13 — 21.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It rates the current severity of panic-related symptoms and related impairment. It can be used to track change over time, including response to treatment.

Is it used to diagnose panic disorder?

No. It is a severity rating tool and is not intended for diagnosis or initial screening.

What topics are covered by the questions?

Items cover frequency and intensity of panic attacks, anticipatory fear, and avoidance. Items also cover functional impairment in daily activities.

How long does it take and how many questions are included?

It includes 7 questions and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches symptoms during the specified rating period. Use the full range of options rather than choosing the middle category by default.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

panic disorder psychopathology

This measure is designed to quantify current symptom burden and functional impact associated with panic disorder. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) provides a brief, structured way to rate severity across core symptom and impairment domains.

It includes 7 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Item content addresses the frequency and intensity of panic attacks, anticipatory fear and avoidance, and related interference in daily functioning. It is intended for severity monitoring over time and treatment response assessment, rather than as a stand-alone diagnostic or screening instrument. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) was developed by D. H. Barlow and M. M. Antony.

Author: D. H. Barlow, M. M. Antony

Literature: Barlow, D. H. Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic. Guilford Press. 2002.; Shear, M. K., Brown, T. A., Barlow, D. H., Money, R., Sholomskas, D. E., Woods, S. W., Gorman, J. M., & Papp, L. A. Multicenter collaborative panic disorder severity scale. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1997.

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