Types of Coping

The Scales

Types of Adjustment Measured by the CPP

The CPP measures five (5) areas of adjustment associated with panic attacks and two areas that have been shown to be associated with improvement with panic problems.

The five areas of adjustment are:

1. Frequency of full and limited-symptoms panic attacks
2. Types and severity of panic symptoms experienced during a panic attack
3. Types and severity of catastrophic thoughts experienced during a panic attack
4. Fear of having anxiety symptoms and thoughts
5. Types and severity of avoidance behavior

Types of Coping Measured by the CPP

Two aspects of coping associated with improvement are measured by the CPP:

1. Types and frequency of using coping strategies for dealing with panic
2. Level of confidence in your ability to use the coping strategies

The Scales Reported On by the CPP

For each section of the CPP a separate scale score is computed based on your responses to the questions in that section of the CPP. In addition, each scale is subdivided into a series of sub-scales. Each sub-scale measures a specific element of one of the scales.

The Panic Symptom Scale -- developed based on answers to questions in Section 2 of the CPP -- measures Types and Severity of Panic Symptoms. It is comprised of seven(7) sub-scales. Each sub-scale measures a single type of symptom associated with panic attacks:

1. Stomach distress
2. Feeling numb or tingly in various parts of your body
3. Choking
4. General arousal (heart beating fast)
5. Chest distress
6. Feeling strange or weird
7. Feeling faint

The Catastrophic Thoughts Scale is composed of four sub-scales:

1. Fear of losing mental control
2. Fear of social embarrassment
3. Fear of having a physical disorder
4. Fear of dying or suffocating

The Fear of Anxiety Scale is composed of four sub-scales:

1. Fear of loss of mental control
2. Fear of loss of physical control
3. Fear of embarrassment
4. Fear of loss of control in public

The Avoidance Scale is composed of four sub-scales:

1. Avoidance of being trapped in social situations
2. Avoidance of being trapped while travelling
3. Avoidance of travelling
4. Avoidance of being home alone

The Coping Strategies Scale is composed of six sub-scales:

1. Cognitive or thought strategies
2. Relaxation strategies
3. Slowing strategies
4. Letting the attack happen
5. Preparing for avoided situations
6. Distraction strategies

The Confidence in Coping Scale is composed of three sub-scales:

1. Coping with the first indications of panic
2. Coping with the symptoms and thoughts of panic
3. Coping with panic attacks that persist