A researcher uses the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to measure treatment response in a schizophrenia drug trial. The BPRS differs from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) primarily in that:
- A BPRS includes 30 items; PANSS includes 18 items
- B BPRS measures only positive symptoms
- C BPRS (18 items) is less comprehensive for negative symptom assessment than PANSS (30 items) ✓
- D PANSS is a self-report measure; BPRS is clinician-rated
Explanation
The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) has 18–24 items (depending on version) and was developed in 1962 as a broadly applicable psychosis measure but provides less granular negative symptom assessment. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) has 30 items across positive scale (7), negative scale (7), and general psychopathology scale (16) — it was developed by Kay et al. to more comprehensively capture both positive and negative symptom dimensions. Both are clinician-rated (not self-report). PANSS is now the preferred outcome measure in schizophrenia clinical trials.
Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.
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