Data on the reliability and validity of the German version of the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS)

The Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) was developed by Cannon-Spoor et al. 1 982 for research use and has gained importance internationally. This scale is designed to mea sure the extent of attaining developmental goals premorb idly. The German version is presented here, with first data on the reliabil ity and validity of the scale. In a sample of schizophrenic and schizoaffec tive patients (n=86) and healthy parents of the patients (n=38), DSM-IV dia gnosis was made and PAS and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) da ta were taken along with information on the course of the disorder. Using C ronbachs alpha,the estimated reliability for the scale and subscales lay be tween 0.809 and 0.931. High PAS scores, representing poor premorbid adjustm ent, correlated significantly with low age of onset, high PANSS scores, ins idious onset, long hospitalisation, and serious course of the disorder. The threshold of PAS scores between healthy and sick probands was at 0.23. Pat ients with scores >0.53 appeared to have an unfavourable course. With test results >0.23, an odds ratio of 27.9 was ascertained (95% CI 9.39-82.89). T he findings presented correspond with those from previous reports in litera ture.