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Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a widely used, 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure two distinct emotional domains…

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Questions
20
Duration
5 min
Original title
PANAS — Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Adaptation
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Authors
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A.
Created
1988

The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a widely used, 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure two distinct emotional domains: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). Rather than treating happiness and distress as opposite ends of a single continuum, the PANAS recognizes them as independent dimensions. A person can simultaneously experience high levels of both, such as feeling excited yet jittery before a major event, or low levels of both, often presenting as emotionally flat. Because thoughts and feelings interlock to shape our overall emotional state, assessing these dimensions separately offers a much richer clinical picture.

In clinical practice, the PANAS provides a reliable, repeatable metric for assessing mood. It can be adapted to measure immediate states or longer-term emotional traits, helping therapists ground abstract complaints in a structured cognitive-behavioral framework. This flexibility makes it a valuable tool for tracking how patients respond to interventions, observing emotional fluctuations between sessions, and identifying pervasive mood patterns. By quantifying these emotional dimensions, clinicians gain a clearer, validated understanding of the patient's internal experience.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Brief 20-item emotional adjective self-report questionnaire measuring two relatively independent dimensions of mood: positive affect (PA, 10 items) and negative affect (NA, 10 items). The time frame is defined by the clinician (at the present moment, today, the past week, the past year, in general…), allowing for the assessment of both momentary state and trait. Useful for objectifying emotional state, monitoring mood fluctuations, and complementing the assessment of anxiety, depressive, or stress symptoms.
Published percentiles (Crawford & Henry 2004, Table 5)
Positive affect (PA) — concerning if LOWraw 31n = 1003percentile 46
P1
13
P5
18
P10
21
P24
26
P52
32
P77
37
P90
41
P95
44
P99
47
Negative affect (NA) — concerning if HIGHraw 29n = 1003percentile 95
P12
10
P28
12
P47
14
P74
18
P90
24
P95
29
P99
35
1050
Table 5 from the study, reproduced as is: each raw score has its published percentile (direct reading, never an interpolation) — the exact percentile of the score is displayed on the right. Plotted reference lines are the published ranks closest to the 1/5/10/25/50/75/90/95/99 percentiles (for PA: P24 and P77 due to the absence of published P25/P75; for NA, the minimum score of 10 is already at the 12th percentile — floor effect, no P1/P5/P10). Authors' note: in a clinical context, concern arises from an unusually HIGH NA and an unusually LOW PA.
Crawford et al. (2004)View the study ↗
UK norms (Crawford & Henry 2004)
Group
Positive affect (PA) — 31
généraleTotal (N = 1 003) · n = 1003 · Crawford et al. (2004)
1050
31
M = 31.31 ± 7.65
Negative affect (NA) — 29
généraleTotal (N = 1 003) · n = 1003 · Crawford et al. (2004)
1050
29
M = 16 ± 5.9
Non-clinical sample representative of the British general adult population (N = 1 003, 18–91 years). Means and standard deviations from Table 4 — the authors specify that, due to the skewness of the distributions (especially NA), the abnormality of a score is estimated using the published percentile table (below), rather than the mean and standard deviation.
Crawford et al. (2004)View the study ↗
Negative affect (NA)
29/ 50
Negative Affect (NA) reflects a dimension of general distress summarising a variety of negative states such as anger, guilt, or anxiety.
items 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20
29
1050
For information
Cut-off≥ 29Abnormally high NA (from the published 95th percentile — authors' example)
“…abnormally high NA (e.g. 95th percentile)…”; Table 5: raw 29 → 95th percentile (NA).
Crawford et al. (2004)View the study ↗
Positive affect (PA)
31/ 50
Positive Affect (PA) is associated with pleasurable engagement with the environment.
items 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19
31
1050
For information
Cut-off≤ 18Abnormally low PA (at most the published 5th percentile — authors' example)
“…abnormally low PA (e.g. 5th percentile).”; Table 5: raw 18 → 5th percentile (PA).
Crawford et al. (2004)View the study ↗

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What the test measures

The PANAS measures two broad, independent dimensions of mood and emotional experience. By isolating these factors, clinicians can better untangle the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors during case conceptualization.

  • Positive Affect (PA): Captures the extent to which a person feels enthusiastic, active, and alert. High PA indicates a state of high energy, full concentration, and pleasurable engagement, whereas low PA often reflects lethargy or anhedonia.
  • Negative Affect (NA): Evaluates a general dimension of subjective distress and unpleasurable engagement. High NA encompasses aversive mood states like anger, guilt, fear, and nervousness, while low NA points to a state of calmness and serenity.

This instrument is intended for use with adolescents and adults in both clinical and general populations, offering a robust assessment of momentary mood or enduring traits depending on the chosen time frame.

When and why to use it

Clinicians typically deploy the PANAS when they need to rapidly and reliably quantify a patient's emotional state, either at a single point in time or longitudinally.

  • Intake baseline: To establish a clear profile of the patient's general emotional functioning and current distress levels before beginning therapy.
  • Monitoring change: To track shifts in positive and negative affect across sessions, offering an objective way to evaluate coping strategy effectiveness and see if emotions are driving unhelpful behaviors.
  • Identifying emotional blunting: To detect unusually low positive affect, which can signal apathy or experiential avoidance, highlighting areas where building psychological flexibility may be indicated.
  • Differentiating anxiety and depression: To refine clinical impressions, as anxiety is often marked by high negative affect and hyperarousal, while depression is heavily characterized by low positive affect.

Using the PANAS ensures that emotional shifts are captured with a validated metric, enriching the clinician's subjective impression with standardized data.

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The questions

  1. This scale consists of a number of words that describe different feelings and emotions. Read each item and then indicate, using the scale below, to what extent you have felt this way during the reference period indicated by your clinician (e.g., right now, today, during the past few days, during the past week, in general).
    1. Interested
    This item probes the patient's capacity for engagement and curiosity toward their environment.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  2. 2. Distressed
    This item assesses the overall sense of acute psychological anguish or suffering.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  3. 3. Excited
    This item measures the presence of positive emotional arousal and enthusiasm.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  4. 4. Upset
    This item evaluates feelings of emotional disturbance, agitation, or being easily rattled.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  5. 5. Strong
    This item gauges the patient's internal sense of resilience, confidence, and personal capability.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  6. 6. Guilty
    This item targets feelings of remorse, self-blame, or moral failing.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  7. 7. Scared
    This item examines the patient's immediate sense of threat or generalized fearfulness.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  8. 8. Hostile
    This item screens for feelings of anger, antagonism, or animosity toward others.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  9. 9. Enthusiastic
    This item assesses high-energy positive anticipation and eagerness.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  10. 10. Proud
    This item explores the patient's sense of self-worth and satisfaction in their own achievements.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  11. 11. Irritable
    This item measures the threshold for frustration and feelings of annoyance.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  12. 12. Alert
    This item probes cognitive sharpness, vigilance, and conscious presence.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  13. 13. Ashamed
    This item evaluates deep-seated feelings of humiliation, inadequacy, or social unacceptability.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  14. 14. Inspired
    This item targets the patient's capacity to feel elevated, motivated, or moved by ideas and events.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  15. 15. Nervous
    This item captures feelings of apprehension, worry, or physical manifestations of anxiety.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  16. 16. Determined
    This item gauges the presence of resolve, goal-directed focus, and willpower.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  17. 17. Attentive
    This item screens for the ability to sustain concentration and remain mentally present.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  18. 18. Jittery
    This item assesses physical restlessness, tension, or the sensation of being overly on edge.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  19. 19. Active
    This item evaluates subjective energy levels and the drive for physical or mental action.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
  20. 20. Afraid
    This item probes the conscious experience of dread or fear in response to perceived danger.
    • Very slightly or not at all
    • A little
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely
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