Abstract

DESOUSA, Diogo Araújo et al. Systematic review of instruments to evaluate anxiety in Brazilian population. Aval. psicol. [online]. 2013, vol.12, n.3, pp. 397-410. ISSN 1677-0471.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the instruments for the assessment of Anxiety Disorders (AD) available in Brazil. A literature review was conducted in Index Psi, PePSIC, SciELO, LILACS, PsycINFO, and PUBMED databases complemented by extra strategies. The review included 99 studies about 69 assessment instruments. Most of the instruments were cross-cultural adaptations, psychometric-based and self-reported. Results were divided into seven categories of instruments, supporting the multifaceted characteristics of the anxiety construct. Alternatives for the assessment of AD in different age ranges and contexts were found. Most of the studies presented good validity and reliability evidences of the instruments evaluated, although some still need further investigations. The progress and continuous monitoring of the studies about AD assessment provide theoretical and empirical support for the development of the anxiety construct and for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Keywords : anxiety; anxiety disorders; psychological evaluation; scales.

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