title: Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is widely used for patients with schizophrenia. This scale is reliable and valid. The PANSS was translated and validated in several languages.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to translate and validate the PANSS in the Arab population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PANSS was translated into formal Arabic language using the back-translation method. 101 Arab patients with schizophrenia and 98 Arabs with no diagnosis of any mental disorder were recruited. The Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-6) was used as a diagnostic tool to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia or rule out any diagnosis for the healthy control group. Reliability of the scale was assessed by calculating internal consistency, interrater reliability and test-retest reliability. Construct validity was assessed using the Arabic version of the MINI-6. PANSS total scores were correlated with the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed that the internal consistency was good (0.92). Scores on the PANSS of the patients were much higher than those of the healthy controls. The PANSS showed good interrater reliability and test-retest reliability (0.92 and 0.75, respectively). In comparison with the MINI-6, the PANSS showed good sensitivity and specificity, which implies good construct validity of this version.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the Arabic version of the PANSS is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of patients with schizophrenia in the Arab population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Arij
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yehya
authors.forename: Suhaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghuloum
authors.forename: Ziyad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mahfoud
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Opler
authors.forename: Anzalee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammoudeh
authors.forename: Abdulmoneim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdulhakam
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Mujalli
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hani
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elsherbiny
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Amin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult