Stanley R. Kay, Ph.D., Lewis A. Opler, M.D., Ph.D., Abraham Fiszbein, M.D.
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS™) is based on findings that schizophrenia comprises at least two distinct syndromes: the positive syndrome, consisting of productive symptoms; and the negative syndrome, consisting of deficit features. It is useful when developing treatment plans because you can focus on the type of symptoms the patient is experiencing. The PANSS is also helpful when studying the effects of medication (e.g., in clinical drug trials) because it allows you to determine which type of symptoms are being affected.
Key Areas Measured
18 and Older
Professional
Observer
Interview
30 to 40 Minutes
PANSS: 33
SCI-PANSS: 179
IQ-PANSS: 98
B
Handscored
MCCB™
18 and Older
Professional
Observer
Interview
30 to 40 Minutes
PANSS: 33
SCI-PANSS: 179
IQ-PANSS: 98
B
Handscored
MCCB™
Structured Clinical Interview for PANSS (SCI-PANSS)
To optimize the instrument’s objectivity, the SCI-PANSS was developed to secure reliable information. The SCI-PANSS can be used to gather information objectively prior to completing the PANSS assessment.
Informant Questionnaire (IQ-PANSS)
The IQ-PANSS evaluates phenomenological presentation. Through item definitions, statements, and questions, the questionnaire ensures that all information related to behavioral presence, frequency, and responsiveness is obtained during interviews with family members, healthcare providers, or other informants.
The PANSS is a handscored instrument. It can be scored using the standard Dimensional scoring or the Pentagonal scoring method. The Pentagonal method uses 25 PANSS items organized into five scales: Negative, Positive, Dysphoric Mood, Activation, and Autistic Preoccupation.
Thirty years of research support the use of the PANSS as a psychometrically sound measure of the presence and severity of symptoms of schizophrenia. The scales have demonstrated excellent internal consistency (coefficient alpha and split-half reliability) and consistency over time (test-retest reliability) while still being sensitive to change. The PANSS Positive and Negative symptom ratings are highly correlated with the Anderson method for evaluation, and the General Psychopathology scale has demonstrated significant associations with the NIMH Clinical Global Impression Scale.
Psychopharmacological research supports the PANSS’ construct, discriminative, convergent, and predictive validity. In addition, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is supportive of the use of the PANSS as an outcome measure in clinical trials assessing drug efficacy, given the volume of studies that support its sensitivity to medication and other treatment effects when used longitudinally.
Normative data was gathered from a sample of 240 medicated schizophrenics. The major scales were all found to exhibit the characteristic Gaussian (bell-shaped) distribution curves, without significant skewness or kurtosis, which was taken to indicate that the scores are normally distributed in the comparison sample. Complete normative data are provided in the PANSS Manual.
Online
Assess easily online from anywhere. Includes automatic scoring and report generation.
Software
Requires software. Includes automatic scoring and report generation.
Handscored
QuikScore forms are scored by hand without reports.
PANSS Forms Revised
PANSS Forms Revised
SCI-PANSS Forms
SCI-PANSS Forms
IQ-PANSS Forms
IQ-PANSS Forms
PANSS Technical Manual -Revised
PANSS Technical Manual -Revised