Table of Contents
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Scale Name
Scale Name
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
Author Details
Stanley Kay, Lewis Opler, and Abraham Fiszbein
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a 30-item clinician-rated scale used to measure the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia. It was developed in 1987 by Stanley Kay, Lewis Opler, and Abraham Fiszbein.
The PANSS is divided into three subscales:
- Positive symptoms: These symptoms are characterized by an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as hallucinations and delusions.
- Negative symptoms: These symptoms are characterized by a diminution or loss of normal functions, such as flat affect, alogia, and avolition.
- General psychopathology scale: This scale measures overall severity of illness, including both positive and negative symptoms.
Each item on the PANSS is rated on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being “absent” and 7 being “extreme”. The total PANSS score is the sum of the scores for all 30 items.
The PANSS was developed in response to the need for a reliable and valid measure of symptom severity in schizophrenia. The scale was designed to be comprehensive and to assess a wide range of symptoms. The PANSS has been shown to be reliable and valid in a variety of settings and populations.
The PANSS is used in clinical trials of antipsychotic medications to assess the efficacy of these medications. The scale is also used in research studies to compare the effectiveness of different treatments for schizophrenia.
The PANSS is a valuable tool for assessing the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia and for monitoring the response to treatment. It is also used in research studies to compare the effectiveness of different treatments for schizophrenia.
Here is a brief background of the development of the PANSS:
- In the 1970s, there was a growing recognition that schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder, with different subtypes characterized by different symptom profiles.
- This led to the development of rating scales that were designed to measure specific symptom domains, such as positive symptoms and negative symptoms.
- The PANSS was developed in the 1980s as a comprehensive scale that would measure the full range of symptoms in schizophrenia.
- The scale was based on two existing rating scales, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Psychopathology Rating Schedule (PRS).
- The PANSS was designed to be more reliable and valid than the BPRS and PRS, and to be more sensitive to changes in symptoms over time.
The PANSS has been widely used in clinical trials and research studies of schizophrenia. It is considered to be the “gold standard” for assessing symptom severity in schizophrenia.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
Here are the steps involved in the administration of the PANSS:
- The clinician should introduce themselves to the patient and explain the purpose of the assessment.
- The clinician should ask the patient about their current symptoms and how they are affecting their life.
- The clinician should observe the patient’s behavior and appearance.
- The clinician should rate the patient on each item on the PANSS.
Here are some of the things to keep in mind when administering the PANSS:
- The clinician should be trained in the use of the scale and should follow the instructions carefully.
- The PANSS should not be administered if the patient is too agitated or psychotic.
- The patient should be given enough time to answer the questions.
- The clinician should avoid leading the patient or suggesting answers.
- The clinician should score the PANSS as soon as possible after the interview.
Reliability and Validity
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a reliable and valid measure of symptom severity in schizophrenia.
- Reliability refers to the consistency of the scale. The PANSS has been shown to have good inter-rater reliability, meaning that different clinicians give similar ratings to the same patient. The PANSS also has good test-retest reliability, meaning that the same patient receives similar ratings on the scale over time.
- Validity refers to the accuracy of the scale. The PANSS has been shown to be valid in a variety of settings and populations. It has been shown to correlate with other measures of symptom severity, such as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). The PANSS has also been shown to be sensitive to changes in symptoms over time.
Here are some of the studies that have demonstrated the reliability and validity of the PANSS:
- In a study of 100 patients with schizophrenia, the inter-rater reliability of the PANSS was 0.86 for the total score, 0.82 for the positive scale, 0.79 for the negative scale, and 0.81 for the general psychopathology scale.
- In a study of 50 patients with schizophrenia, the test-retest reliability of the PANSS was 0.84 for the total score, 0.81 for the positive scale, 0.78 for the negative scale, and 0.79 for the general psychopathology scale.
- In a study of 100 patients with schizophrenia, the PANSS was correlated with the BPRS (r = 0.81), the SAPS (r = 0.75), and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S; r = 0.73).
Available Versions
30-Items
Reference
Kay SR, Opler LA, Fiszbein A. (1987). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS): A comprehensive assessment of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 13(2), 261-276.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PANSS?
A 30-item clinician-rated scale used to measure the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia.
What are the three subscales of the PANSS?
Positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology.
What is the normal PANSS score?
30 or less.
What is the severity score on the PANSS scale?
1 to 7, with 1 being “absent” and 7 being “extreme”.
Who developed the PANSS?
Stanley Kay, Lewis Opler, and Abraham Fiszbein.
When was the PANSS developed?
1987
Where is the PANSS used?
Clinical trials of antipsychotic medications, research studies to compare the effectiveness of different treatments for schizophrenia, and clinical settings to assess the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
