title: Measurements of response, remission, and recovery in schizophrenia and examples for their clinical application.
abstract: Different definitions of response, remission, and recovery are used in schizophrenia research, which makes comparing and applying results in clinical practice difficult. Response criteria are often based on reductions in rating scale scores (eg, ≥ 20% reduction from baseline). However, when reduction scores from rating scales, such as the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), are linked to Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scores, which are more easily understood, rating scale scores have better clinical application. This linking process also reveals that the widely used response cutoff of 20% does not reflect clinically meaningful improvement in patients with acute, nonrefractory schizophrenia. This article provides suggestions for selecting response criteria, displaying responder rates, and using standard definitions (eg, remission, recovery) in research studies. The ultimate goal of recovery in schizophrenia treatment includes sustained symptom resolution and a return to full functioning.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Technischen Universität München am Klinikum rechts der Isar, Ismaningerstr 22, 81675 München, Germany Stefan.Leucht@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leucht
mesh_terms: D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale / Q000592:standards; D032921:Consensus; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome