Prototypical profiles of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.
Three prototypical profiles of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS; Overall & Gorham, 1962) were isolated using a Q-type factor-analytic strategy with a sample of homeless men with mental illness (N=165). The 3 profiles--depressed, actively psychotic, and withdrawn--were used to study changes in BPRS profiles over time in a control group and a group that received assertive community treatment (ACT). Over2 time periods (inception to 12 months and 12-24 months), the 2 groups did not differ in terms of changes in profile shape, but they did differ in terms of changes in profile elevation. The ACT group evidenced a decrease in symptom severity during the last 12 months, whereas the control group showed an increase. Although changes in profile shape in both groups did occur, there was a significant tendency for the shape of the BPRS profiles to remain stable from the inception of the study to the 12-month assessment and from that time to the 24-month assessment. We describe the uses of these prototypical profiles and discuss the applicability of this analytical approach to other assessment instruments.
Burger
G K
GK
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri, St Louis 63121-4499, USA.
Calsyn
R J
RJ
Morse
G A
GA
Klinkenberg
W D
WD
D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011779:Q-Sort; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome