The Disqualification of Positive Social Outcomes Scale: A novel assessment of a long-recognized cognitive tendency in social anxiety disorder

Socially anxious individuals frequently tend to disqualify positive social experiences and outcomes. However, no formal measure of Disqualificationof Positive Social Outcome (DPSO)-related tendencies has yet been reported. The purpose of the present series of studies was to develop the Disqualification ofPositive Social Outcomes Scale (DPSOS) and examine its psychometric profile across several independent samples, including a large (n = 585) undergraduate sample; a clinical sample of individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (n = 14), and a demographically-equivalent sample of non-socially anxious control participants (n = 14). The factorial validity, internal consistency, and construct validity of the DPSOS subscales were examined. Results provide preliminary support for the psychometric properties of the DPSOS. Implications of DPSO as to assessment and treatment of social anxiety disorder are discussed.