PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ITEMS BELOW ARE PURELY DESIGNED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, AND NO CONCLUSION SHOULD BE DRAWN FROM THEM. THEY ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE.
SEE OUR DISCLAIMER
THE PANIC ATTACK QUESTIONNAIRE (PAQ)
-
Below are sample questions taken from the PAQ, which is a questionnaire about panic attacks . The original questionnaire is 9-page long, so here you will find only an abbreviated version.
It will help you assess the frequency and severity of your panic attacks. Take it once a month together while working on your recovery to track your progress.
This tool is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis, as it is only informative.
-
In this questionnaire we will ask you questions about panic attacks and your history of anxiety problems.
A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom that is not a result of a real danger. Some of the most common symptoms experienced during an attack are: dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, and trembling or shaking. A panic attack differs from feelings of fear, anxiety, or worry that build up over time, and also differs from moderate feelings of fear or anxiety. Rather, it involves quick hitting feelings of extreme terror or fear.
-
In the PAST YEAR approximately how many panic attacks have you had?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 over 10
In the PAST FOUR WEEKS how many panic attacks have you had?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 over 10
In the PAST WEEK how many panic attacks have you had?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 over 10
Have panic attacks occurred MORE frequently at some time in the past?
YES ___ NO ___
Do you think the panic attacks are becoming more frequent?
YES ___ NO ___
Do you think the panic attacks are becoming more intense?
YES ___ NO ___
When a panic attack occurs, generally what is the time, speed between the onset of the attack and when the panic is most intense?
Please again make rating for your most recent panic, the worst panic you can remember, and your typical or usual panic attacks:
Most Recent Panic Attack
a) very rapid (less than 10 minutes)
b) moderately rapid (10 – 30 minutes)
c) moderately slow (30 – 60 minutes)
d) slowly (more than one hour)
Worst Ever Panic Attack
a) very rapid (less than 10 minutes)
b) moderately rapid (10 – 30 minutes)
c) moderately slow (30 – 60 minutes)
d) slowly (more than one hour)
Typical/Usual Panic Attack
a) very rapid (less than 10 minutes)
b) moderately rapid (10 – 30 minutes)
c) moderately slow (30 – 60 minutes)
d) slowly (more than one hour)
How long, on average, does a panic attack last (start to finish)?
Make rating for your most recent panic, the worst panic you can remember, and your typical or usual panic attacks:
Most Recent Panic Attack
a) a few minutes (0-10 minutes)
b) 10 – 30 minutes
c) 30 minutes to one hour
d) several hours
e) more than one day
Worst Ever Panic Attack
a) a few minutes (0-10 minutes)
b) 10 – 30 minutes
c) 30 minutes to one hour
d) several hours
e) more than one day
Typical/Usual Panic Attack
a) a few minutes (0-10 minutes)
b) 10 – 30 minutes
c) 30 minutes to one hour
d) several hours
e) more than one day
Please indicate how severely you experience each of the following symptoms WHEN YOU ARE HAVING a panic attack.
Remember: A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom. Please rate how severe each symptom was during your most recent panic attack, the worst panic attack you can remember, and you usual or typical panic attacks:
Scoring:
Doesn’t occur: 0, Mild: 1, Moderate: 2, Severe:3, Very severe: 4
a) Difficulty breathing
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
b) Neck tension
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
c) Heart pounding
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
d) Chest pain or discomfort
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
e) Joint pain
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
f) Choking or smothering sensations
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
g) Dizziness, vertigo, or unsteady feelings
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
h) Feelings of unreality
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
i) Tingling in hands or feet
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
j)Headache
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
k) Hot and cold flashes
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
l) Sweating
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
m) Acute neck pain
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
n) Faintness
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
o) Trembling or shaking
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
p) Cold extremities
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
q) Tinnitus/ringing in the ears
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
r) Fears of death or serious illness
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
s) Fear of going crazy
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
t) Fear of doing something uncontrolled
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
u) Feeling of nausea
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
v) Visual difficulties (e.g. blurred vision)
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
w) Auditory difficulties (e.g. ears ringing)
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
x) Difficulty concentrating
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
y) Extremely rapid heartbeat
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
z) Fear of causing a scene
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
aa) Feeling of anger
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
bb) Feeling of sadness
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
cc) Feeling of guilt
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
dd) Urge to escape from scene of the panic
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
ee) Flushing
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
ff) Fear of drawing attention to oneself
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
gg) Mouth feels dry
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
hh) Feeling of helplessness
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
ii) Neck soreness
Most recent panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Worst ever panic: 0 1 2 3 4
Typical/Usual panic: 0 1 2 3 4
How much control do you think you have in preventing the OCCURRENCE of any panic attack?(Please circle a number)
No Control: 0-3
Some Control: 4-7
Total Control: 8-10
How much control do you think you have in limiting the SEVERITY of any panic attack? (Please circle a number)
No Control: 0-3
Some Control: 4-7
Total Control: 8-10
How much distress do the panic attacks cause in your life?
None At All: 1
Mildly Distressing: 2
Moderately Distressing: 3
Very Distressing: 4
Extremely Distressing: 5
To what degree have the panic attacks caused you to change or restrict your lifestyle (e.g. everyday activities, places you go)?
No change: 1
Some change: 2
A moderate amount of change: 3
Quite a bit of change: 4
Extreme change: 5
-
Norton, G. R., Harrison, B., Hauch, J., & Rhodes, L. . (2012) . The Panic Attack Questionnaire . Measurement Instrument Database for the Social
The Anxiety Control Questionnaire (ACQ)
This 30-item questionnaire assesses an individual’s perceived ability to control anxiety-inducing situations.
Reference:
Rapee, R. M., Craske, M. G., Brown, T. A., & Barlow, D. H. (1996). Measurement of perceived control over anxiety-related events. Behavior Therapy, 27(2), 279-293.
-
INSTRUCTIONS
Listed below are a number of statements describing a set of beliefs. Please read each statement carefully and, on the 0-5 scale given, indicate how much you think each statement is typical of you.
0 = Strongly disagree
1 = Moderately disagree
2 = Slightly disagree
3 = Slightly agree
4 = Moderately agree
5 = Strongly agree
-
ACQ
1. I am usually able to avoid threat quite easily
2. How well I cope with difficult situations depends on whether I have outside help.
3. When I am put under stress, I am likely to lose control.
4. I can usually stop my anxiety from showing.
5. When I am frightened by something, there is generally nothing I can do.
6. My emotions seem to have a life of their own.
7. There is little I can do to influence people’s judgements of me.
8. Whether I can successfully escape a frightening situation is always a matter of chance with me.
9. I often shake uncontrollably.
10. I can usually put worrisome thoughts out of my mind easily.
11. When I am in a stressful situation, I am able to stop myself from breathing too hard.
12. I can usually influence the degree to which a situation is potentially threatening to me.
13. I am able to control my level of anxiety.
14. There is little I can do to change frightening events.
15. The extent to which a difficult situation resolves itself has nothing to do with my actions.
16. If something is going to hurt me, it will happen no matter what I do.
17. I can usually relax when I want.
18. When I am under stress, I am not always sure how I will react.
19. I can usually make sure people like me if I work at it.
20. Most events that make me anxious are outside my control.
21. I always know exactly how I will react to difficult situations.
22. I am unconcerned if I become anxious in a difficult situation, because I am confident in my ability to cope with my symptoms.
23. What people think of me is largely outside my control.
24. I usually find it hard to deal with difficult problems.
25. When I hear that someone has a serious illness, I worry that I am next.
26. When I am anxious, I find it difficult to focus on anything other than my anxiety.
27. I am able to cope as effectively with unexpected anxiety as I am with anxiety that I expect to occur.
28. I sometimes think, “Why even bother to try to cope with my anxiety when nothing I do seems to affect how frequently or intensely I experience it?”.
29. I often have the ability to get along with “difficult” people.
30. I will avoid conflict due to my inability to successfully resolve it
-
SCORING
To score the ACQ:
First reverse score items 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26 ,28,and 30
Here is how to score them:
5: Strongly disagree; 4: Moderately disagree
3: Slightly disagree; 2: Slightly agree;
1: Moderately agree; 0: Strongly agree
Second, just add total scores. Higher scores are indicative of greater perceived control. In addition to a total score, you can also gauge how much control you feel you have over (a) yourself and (b) your environment.
(a) Control over internal reactions: items 4, 10, 11, 13, 17, 21, 22, 27.
(b) Control over external events: items 2, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, and 30.
NEUROTIC TRAIT
Neuroticism is a personality trait marked by a tendency to worry excessively and expect negative outcomes.
Check your level of neuroticism by answering the questions with the following scoring scale:
Very inaccurate = 1; Moderately inaccurate = 2; Neither inaccurate nor accurate = 3; Moderately accurate = 4; Very accurate = 5
-
Am relaxed most of the time
-
Dislike myself
-
Worry about things
-
Panic easily
-
Am very pleased with myself
-
Rarely get Irritated
-
Get stressed out easily
-
Am often down in the dumps
-
Seldom get mad
-
Fear for the worst
-
Am not easily frustrated
-
Am not easily bothered by things
-
Feel comfortable with myself
-
Often feel blue
-
Seldom feel blue
-
Have frequent mood swings
-
Remain clam under pressure
-
Feel threatened easily
-
Rarely lose my composure
-
Am filled with doubts about things
SCORING:
Reverse scoring for questions #1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19,
Very inaccurate =5
Moderately inaccurate = 4
Neither inaccurate nor accurate = 3
Moderately accurate =2
Very accurate = 1
A score between 35 and 80 would be average, as we all have some “neurotic tendencies”, but anything above 80 would indicate a high level of neuroticism, which could potentially contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder or worsen an already existing anxiety disorder.
Credit:
Adapted from ‘Are you neurotic’ test at https://www.psychologistworld.com/influence-personality/five-factor-test/neuroticism-quiz
TAKE THE TEST
INTEROCEPTION SELF-TEST
Excessive sensitivity to internal states constitutes a vulnerability factor to anxiety and panic attacks. Below is an informal example of the common tests used to identify the level of sensitivity to one’s bodily state. Take the test to gauge where your sensibility level falls.
-
STEP 1
First set your alarm for 1 minute. Sit somewhere quiet and comfortable, and keep your hands at your sides and both feet on the ground
-
STEP 2
Once you are fully settled, start your alarm and close your eyes (or keep them open). It is recommended to do the test before eating
-
STEP 3
Focus on your heart beats and try to count how many times you hear heartbeats during that minute.
DO NOT hold the pulse on your wrist or neck.
After the minute is up, write down the number of heartbeats (estimated heart rate)
-
STEP 4
Next, set your alarm again for 1 minute and this time take your pulse the usual way by placing your left/right pointer and middle fingers on the underside of the opposite wrist.
You can also take your pulse by placing your right/left pointer and middle fingers just under the back of your jaw where the jaw meets the neck (on the same side–right or left).
-
STEP 5
Wait 2 minutes
-
STEP 6
Again, set a timer for 1 minute and retake your pulse as in step 4.
Next, sum the two numbers (pulse rate in step 4 + pulse rate in step 6) and divide the result by 2, which should give you an average heart rate.
-
STEP 7
Complete the following calculation:
1 – ((Average heart rate – estimated heart rate)/average heart rate) = _______
-
STEP 8
How to interpret your results:
A result of .80 or higher indicates that your interoceptive ability is very good.
A result of .60-.79 reflects a moderately good sense of self.
A result of below .59 indicates poor interoception.
INTOLERANCE UNCERTAINTY SCALE –
12 items
DO YOU NOT HANDLE UNCERTAINTY WELL? DOES IT MAKE YOU ANXIOUS?
FIND OUT HERE!
INSTRUCTIONS
You will find below a series of statements which describe how people may react to the uncertainties of life. Please use the scale below to describe to what extent each item is characteristic of you (for each item please tick one of the five boxes) as follows:
1-not at all characteristic of me
2 – a little characterstic of me
3- Somewhat characteristic of me
4- very characteristic of me
5-entirely characteristic of me
-
SCALE
1. Unforeseen events upset me greatly.
2. It frustrates me not having all the information I need.
3. One should always look ahead so as to avoid surprises.
4. A small unforeseen event can spoil everything‚ even with the best planning.
5. I always want to know what the future has in store for me.
6. I can’t stand being taken by surprise.
7. I should be able to organize everything in advance.
8. Uncertainty keeps me from living a full life.
9. When it’s time to act‚ uncertainty paralyses me.
10. When I am uncertain‚ I can’t function very well.
11. The smallest doubt can stop me from acting.
12. I must get away from all uncertain situations.
-
SCORING AND INTERPRETING YOUR RESULTS
To score the IUS add up the responses for each of the items
2 subscales:
Prospective Anxiety (add up the responses from 1-7), which relates to how much we desire for predictability.
A high score indicates how difficult and uncomfortable it is to deal with uncertainty
Inhibitory Anxiety (add up the response from 8-12), which relates to how much uncertainty paralyzes us.
A high score indicates how difficult it is to prepare for and respond to uncertain events.
Total score indicates how much uncertainty is intolerable and dysfunctional in your life.
Reference:
Carleton‚ R. N.‚ Norton‚ M. A. P. J.‚ & Asmundson‚ G. J. G. (2007). Fearing the unknown: A short version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders‚ 21‚ 105-117