Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS)
What It Measures
The Pittsburgh Agitation Scale is filled in by whoever has just been with the person. Rather than asking a caregiver to recall a week of behaviour, it rates what an observer actually saw during a defined period on the ward or unit.
Four behaviours are scored 0 to 4. Aberrant vocalisation covers noise-making, from occasional low-level sounds to loud persistent screaming. Motor agitation covers pacing, wandering, and restless movement. Aggressiveness covers verbal and physical aggression toward people or property. Resisting care covers pushing away or refusing during personal care. Anchors describe each level by intensity, disruptiveness, and whether the person can be redirected. The four sum to a total out of 16.
Further Reading
Additional Notes
Licensing Notes: The scale is reproduced widely in clinical resources and trial protocols without a posted fee.
Learn More: The PAS is short enough that a nurse can complete it after each observation period, from direct observation, over a window of 1 to 8 hours. That is what makes it usable on a busy unit and what makes it suitable for tracking response to an intervention.