The Patient Distress Scale questionnaire: factor structure and internal consistency

Abstract

This study examined the factor structure and internal consistency of the Patient Distress Scale (PDS). The PDS is an 11-item questionnaire that was developed to assess acute neurological patients' awareness of emotional disturbances during early rehabilitation. A retrospective cohort of patients seen for inpatient rehabilitation following brain injury. The PDS was administered to patients and family members upon admission to the neurorehabilitation unit as part of their neuropsychological evaluation. Subjects were heterogeneous sample of acute neurological inpatients (n = 84) and their relatives (n = 64). A principle components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded a three factor solution, which together accounted for 62% of the variance. The factor solution provided partial support for the initial structure of the PDS. Analyses revealed relatively strong reliability coefficients for patients (r = 0.82) and relatives (r = 0.86) on the PDS total score. Acceptable reliability coefficients were also found for patients and relatives on each of the factor scores. Preliminary findings support the utility of the PDS as a measure of awareness in acute neurological patients.