A clinimetric analysis of a BPRS-6 scale for schizophrenia severity

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Bech ◽  
Stephen F Austin ◽  
Nina Timmerby ◽  
Thomas A Ban ◽  
Stine Bjerrum Møller
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Theory Model ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Clinical Validity ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

ObjectiveA restricted Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-6) with the six schizophrenia specific items from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) has been investigated. These six items from the PANSS have recently been found to have both clinical validity and ‘unidimensionality’ in measuring the severity of schizophrenic states. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical validity of the BPRS-6. The secondary objective was to evaluate the ‘unidimensionality’ of the BPRS-6 by an ‘item response theory’ model.MethodsThe BPRS-6 was scored independently by two psychiatrists and two psychologists while viewing six open-ended videotaped interviews in patients with a DSM-III diagnosis of schizophrenia. The interviews were conducted by Heinz E. Lehmann, an experienced psychiatrist. They were focused on the psychopathology that contributed most to the ‘severity’ of the patient’s clinical state.ResultsThe BPRS-6 with three positive symptoms (delusions, conceptual disorganisation, hallucinations) and three negative symptoms (blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, poverty of speech) was found to be clinically valid and captured the variables that contribute most to the severity of schizophrenia. The BPRS-6 was also found to have acceptable ‘unidimensionality’ (coefficient of homogeneity 0.45) and inter-rater reliability (inter-class-coefficient 0.81).ConclusionThe BPRS-6 was found to capture the information that translates into the severity of schizophrenia. It has also acceptable psychometric validity.

Estrogen, menstrual cycle phases, and psychopathology in women suffering from schizophrenia

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1427-1436 ◽  
Author(s):  
NIELS BERGEMANN ◽  
PETER PARZER ◽  
BENNO RUNNEBAUM ◽  
FRANZ RESCH ◽  
CHRISTOPH MUNDT
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Regular Menses ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

ABSTRACTBackgroundEstrogen has been hypothesized to have a protective and antipsychotic-like effect in women at risk for schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between menstrual cycle and/or estrogen levels and psychotic symptoms in a sample of women with schizophrenia.MethodOne hundred and twenty-five premenopausal women with schizophrenia and regular menses were examined. The levels of 17β-estradiol and other hormones of the gonadal axis were assessed in the follicular, peri-ovulatory, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The effects of the menstrual cycle phase and/or the estradiol level on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores were calculated by means of regression analyses.ResultsSignificant improvement in psychotic, but not depressive, symptoms was observed during the luteal phase, compared with other days of the menstrual cycle.ConclusionsThe present findings indicate that estradiol may have specific antipsychotic-like effects on the symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus further investigation into the therapeutic effect of estrogen may be worthwhile.

The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

1992 ◽  
Vol 180 (11) ◽  
pp. 723-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
MORRIS BELL ◽  
ROBERT MILSTEIN ◽  
JOSEPH BEAM-GOULET ◽  
PAUL LYSAKER ◽  
DOMENIC CICCHETTI
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

scholarly journals Do Leptin Play a Role in Metabolism–Related Psychopathological Symptoms?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yelei Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyue Li ◽  
Xianhu Yao ◽  
Yating Yang ◽  
Xiaoshuai Ning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Serum Leptin ◽  
Psychopathological Symptoms ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Psychopathology Symptoms ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Objectives: Leptin is a crucial regulator of energy balance and is associated with obesity. In recent years, it has also been recognized as involved in the psychopathological mechanism. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationships between serum leptin levels, body mass index (BMI), and psychopathology symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.Methods: A cross-sectional assessment of 324 inpatients with schizophrenia was conducted. Schizophrenia symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Serum leptin levels were assessed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Results: Significant differences in sex, BMI, and negative symptom subscale (PANSS-N) scores were found between the groups with high and low leptin levels in the study. Leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI (B = 2.322, t = 9.557, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with PANSS-N scores (B = −0.303, t = −2.784, P = 0.006).Conclusions: Our results suggest that the increase in leptin levels is responsible for antipsychotic-induced weight gain and improved psychopathological symptoms.

scholarly journals Clinical relevance of findings in trials of antipsychotics: systematic review

2011 ◽  
Vol 198 (5) ◽  
pp. 341-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lepping ◽  
Rajvinder S. Sambhi ◽  
Richard Whittington ◽  
Steven Lane ◽  
Rob Poole
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Relevance ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Minimal Improvement ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
First And Second Generation ◽  
Negative Syndrome

BackgroundThere is concern over the methods used to evaluate antipsychotic drugs.AimsTo assess the clinical relevance of findings in the literature.MethodA systematic review identified studies of antipsychotics that used the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A published method of translating these into Clinical Global Impression – Change scale (CGI–C) scores was used to measure clinical relevance.ResultsIn total 98 data-sets were included in the BPRS analysis and 202 data-sets in the PANSS analysis. When aggregated scores were translated into notional CGI–C scores, most drugs reached ‘minimal improvement’ on the BPRS, but few reached that level for PANSS. This was true of both first- and second-generation drugs, including clozapine. Amisulpride and olanzapine had better than average CGI–C scores.ConclusionsOur findings show improvements of limited clinical relevance. The CGI–C scores were better for the BPRS than for the PANSS.

Effects of Neuroleptic Reduction in Schizophrenic Outpatients Receiving High Doses

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gérard Leblanc ◽  
Hugues Cormier ◽  
Marie-Andrée Gagné ◽  
Sylvie Vaillancourt
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Schizophrenic Outpatients

This paper presents an open study which evaluated the clinical effects of a partial and progressive reduction in neuroleptic medication in 32 outpatients suffering from schizophrenia who were receiving high doses (equivalent of ≥ 18 mg of oral haloperidol per day; EHL). After an observation period of twelve weeks, each subject's dose of neuroleptics was reduced by 50% at the rate of 10% every four weeks. Patients were receiving a mean of 62 mg per day EHL at the beginning of the study and 30 mg per day EHL at the completion of the study. After the reduction, the following was observed: 1. a significant but modest change in psychopathology: a decrease in negative symptoms and in the total score on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; and 2. a significant increase in tardive dyskinesia symptoms. Six subjects relapsed but five of them recovered without increasing their reduced medication. Results of this study are discussed in the context of trying to find a minimal maintenance dose in the treatment of schizophrenia. The relative paucity of change despite a large reduction in medication argues for réévaluation of dosage in patients on high or very high doses of neuroleptics. The results suggest that many patients taking high doses could be maintained on significantly lower doses of neuroleptics. With gradual reduction of medication it would seem that many patients who are receiving a high dose of neuroleptic can achieve a lower dose than their current maintenance level.

Treatment of drug-resistant chronic schizophrenics with an association of neuroleptics and the calcium antagonist nimodipine

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Brambilla ◽  
GL Gessa ◽  
A Sciascia ◽  
A Latina ◽  
M Maggioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Symptomatology ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenics ◽  
Daily Dose ◽  
Effect Of Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Plasma Mhpg

SummaryNimodipine was administered at the daily dose of 90 mg po, for 30 days, to ten chronic undifferentiated schizophrenics, eight men and two women, aged 31-35 years, maintained on previously longlasting neuroleptic treatments. In five patients, a placebo period of 15 days preceded the administration of the drug. Monitoring of psychiatric symptomatology by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) revealed significant nimodipine-induced improvement. However, the Andreasen Rating Scale for Positive Symptoms (SAPS) showed favourable effects only in the five patients who had not received placebo, while in the others both SAPS and the Andreasen Rating Scale for Negative Symptoms (SANS) showed no significant effect of therapy. The Tardive Dyskinesia Scale revealed no improvements of neurological symptoms after either placebo or drug treatment. Measurement of plasma MHPG concentrations revealed no significant changes induced by either placebo or nimodipine, while HVA plasma levels showed a trend toward decrease, and prolactin a trend toward increase, after nimodipine.

Combined clozapine-lithium treatment for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Moldavsky ◽  
D Stein ◽  
R Benatov ◽  
P Sirota ◽  
A Elizur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Schizoaffective Disorder ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Lithium Treatment ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Positive And Negative Symptoms

SummaryThree adolescent and two adult patients suffering from chronic excited psychoses (either schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder) resistant to traditional neuroleptics and clozapine were treated with combined clozapine-lithium. Improvement was assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions, administered before and during combined clozapine-lithium treatment. All patients demonstrated a significant improvement with this combination. There was no occurrence of agranulocytosis, neuroleptic malignant syndrome or other clinically significant adverse effects.

Symptomatic Response to Antipsychotics Differs between Recent Onset and Recurrent Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Hill ◽  
Nicholas A. Keks ◽  
Henry Jackson ◽  
Jayashri Kulkarni ◽  
Deborah Hannah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Retardation Factor ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
First Admission

The symptomatic response to standard antipsychotic treatment was assessed over the first 4 weeks of hospitalisation in 39 patients with DSM-III schizophrenia, active phase, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). While highly significant improvement was noted overall, 36% of patients either did not improve or worsened. Furthermore there was no diminution in the withdrawal-retardation factor of the BPRS. Patients experiencing their first admission to hospital, all with recent-onset illness, were then compared with patients who presented with a recurrence and had illness of at least 3 years duration. Despite similarities in overall response, withdrawal-retardation scores did not diminish in recent-onset patients, in contrast to multiple admissions who demonstrated significant improvement. These findings suggest greater responsiveness of negative symptoms to treatment in patients with longstanding illness, and possibly a poorer prognosis in first admission patients with deficit manifestations.

scholarly journals Alysis Reliability Study: Rearranging Phenomenology into Etiology in Mental Disorders

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Peled
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Positive And Negative Symptoms

‘Alysis’ )abbreviation of Neuroanalysis(, - is the chosen definition for the rearrangement of psychiatric phenomology to approximate the hypothesized etiology of mental disorders. Currently the relevant scales such as Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia and the Hamilton scales for depression and anxiety, and Mania Rating Scale have no specific guiding principle in the order of items. ‘Alysis’ is a reorganization of multiple known scales to fit a future brain-related diagnostic approach to mental disorders. Due to the regrouping of items from different scales and reorganizing them according to a brain-related hypothetic order, it is necessary to reassess the reliability of the new ‘Alysis’ rearrangement. In this work the new ‘Alysis’ format is described and then using t-scores analysis, compared to the widely-used Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scale for mental disorders. It is shown that ‘Alysis’ is reliable thus can be a good diagnostic platform to go ahead and generate personalized testable-predictions about brain-related diagnostics for psychiatric patients.

Sulpiride augmentation in people with schizophrenia partially responsive to clozapine

1997 ◽  
Vol 171 (6) ◽  
pp. 569-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roni Shiloh ◽  
Zvi Zemishlany ◽  
Dov Aizenberg ◽  
Marguerite Radwan ◽  
Bruria Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Clozapine Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale

BackgroundWe hypothesised that a combined regimen of clozapine, a relatively weak D2-dopaminergic antagonist, and sulpiride, a selective D2 blocker, would demonstrate a greater antipsychotic efficacy by enhancing the D2 blockade of clozapine.MethodTwenty-eight people with schizophrenia, previously unresponsive to typical antipsychotics and only partially responsive to current treatment with clozapine, received, double-blind, 600 mg/day sulpiride or placebo, in addition to an ongoing clozapine treatment. The clinical status was evaluated before, during, and at the end of 10 weeks of sulpiride addition using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.ResultsThe clozapine–sulpiride group exhibited substantially greater and significant improvements in positive and negative psychotic symptoms. About half of them, characterised by a younger age and lower baseline SAPS scores, had a mean reduction of 42.4 and 50.4% in their BPRS and SAPS scores, respectively.ConclusionsA subgroup of patients with chronic schizophrenia may substantially benefit from sulpiride addition to clozapine.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document