Clinical implications of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores.
BACKGROUND
Despite the widespread use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the clinical meaning of its total score and cut-off values used to define treatment response are unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To link the BPRS to Clinical Global Impression (CGI) ratings.


METHODS
Equipercentile linking of BPRS and CGI ratings from seven drug trials in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia (n=1979).


RESULTS
'Mildly ill' according to the CGI approximately corresponded to a BPRS total score of 31, 'moderately ill'to a BPRS score of 41 and'markedly ill'to a BPRS score of 53.'Minimally improved'according to the CGI score was associated with percentage BPRS reductions of 24, 27 and 30% at weeks 1, 2 and 4, respectively. The corresponding numbers for a CGI rating of 'much improved' were 44, 53 and 58%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide a clearer understanding of how to interpret BPRS total and percentage reduction scores in clinical trials with patients acutely ill with schizophrenia who are experiencing positive symptoms.
Leucht
Stefan
S
Klinik fürr Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie derTechnischen Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 München, Germany. Stefan.Leucht@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
Kane
John M
JM
Kissling
Werner
W
Hamann
Johannes
J
Etschel
Eva
E
Engel
Rolf
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D000077152:Olanzapine