Short-form measures of diabetes-related emotional distress: the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID)-5 and PAID-1.

Journal article

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We wanted to identify a five-item short form of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale and a single-item measure for rapid screening of diabetes-related emotional distress. METHODS: Using an existing database of 1,153 patients with diabetes, we conducted a principal-components analysis to identify a set of five items and then conducted a reliability analysis and validity checks. From those five items, we identified the item with the strongest psychometric properties as a one-item screening tool. RESULTS: We identified a reliable and valid short version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID) comprising five of the emotional-distress questions of the full PAID items (PAID-5, with items 3, 6, 12, 16, 19). The PAID-5 has satisfactory sensitivity (94%) and specificity (89%) for recognition of diabetes-related emotional distress. We also identified a one-item screening tool, the PAID-1 (Question 12: Worrying about the future and the possibility of serious complications), which has concurrent sensitivity and specificity of about 80% for the recognition of diabetes-related emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The PAID-5 and PAID-1 appear to be psychometrically robust short-form measures of diabetes-related emotional distress.

Authors: McGuire, B; Morrison, T; Hermanns, N; Skovlund, S; Eldrup, E

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Diabetologia
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 66-69
• Publication date: 2010-01-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s00125-009-1559-5
• EISSN: 1432-0428
• ISSN: 0012-186X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Hypoglycemic Agents; Stress, Psychological; Social Support; Insulin; Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Psychometrics; Female; Employment; Diabetes Mellitus; Emotions; Diabetic Diet; Male; Middle Aged