Psychometric Properties of Abbreviated and Ultra-Brief Versions of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire

The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is a 16-item self-report measure considered the gold-standard assessment instrument for worry. Two abbreviated versions of the PSWQ have also been developed. An 8-item measure (PSWQ-A) was designed to address poor model fit of the full version with older adult samples, and a 3-item version (PSWQ-3) was developed in a clinical setting to avoid problems related to the reverse-scored items and to increase clinical utility. Preliminary examinations of the abbreviated forms have been promising, but additional psychometric evaluation is needed to confirm their reliability and validity. The current study compared psychometric properties of the 3 versions of the PSWQ in a heterogeneous clinical sample of 272 patients presenting for treatment in a partial hospital setting. Results suggested that scores for all 3 versions had good internal consistency; convergent validity with anxiety, stress, intolerance of uncertainty, negative problem orientation, and negative beliefs about worry; as well as adequate discriminant validity with depression, emotional lability, and substance abuse. On all 3 versions, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) scored higher than those without the disorder, and across all participants, scores decreased from pre- to posttreatment. Finally, scores on the 3 versions showed similar levels of sensitivity and specificity as screening tools for GAD. Overall, the PSWQ-A and PSWQ-3 scores appear to be internally consistent and valid measures of worry that performed similarly to the full 16-item PSWQ. Given the strong psychometric properties of the shorter form scores, clinicians may prefer such forms, as they are quick to administer and easy to score in session.