Comparing PANSS, BPRS Results

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & Research NewsFull AccessComparing PANSS, BPRS ResultsBrownBrownPublished Online:4 Jul 2003https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.38.13.0019Two scales for measuring symptom reduction of schizophrenia patients are commonly used in clinical trials, making comparisons of data across studies a challenge at best.The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) is a 16-item scale with nine general symptom items, five positive-symptom items, and two negative-symptom items. Completed by the physician, each item is scored on a seven-point severity scale (the higher the number, the more severe the symptom), resulting in a range of possible scores from 16 to 112. The average patient with schizophrenia entering a clinical trial typically scores 33.The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a 30-item scale with 16 general psychopathology symptom items, seven positive-symptom items, and seven negativesymptom items. Also completed by the physician, each item is scored on the same sevenpoint severity scale as the PANSS, resulting in a range of possible scores from 30 to 210. The positive- and negative-symptom item groups are often reported separately, with a possible range of 7 to 49. A patient with schizophrenia entering a clinical trial typically scores 91.Source:Geddes J et al; BMJ 2000; 321:1371-76. ISSUES NewArchived