Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) (Overall & Gorham, 1962) is a clinically valid scale for measuring symptoms of psychiatric disorders and the effectiveness of pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric disorders. It is an 18-item scale that measures positive symptoms, general psychopathology and affective symptoms. The BPRS was developed based on the Lorr Multidimensional Scale for Rating Psychiatric Patients (MSRPP) and the Lorr Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale (IMPS), both of which were less efficient and longer to administer. Inter-rater reliability estimates range from 0.56 to 0.87, based on a study involving independent ratings of 83 recently-admitted schizophrenic patients. Each item of the BPRS is scored on 0-7 Likert scale ranging from “Not Present” to “Extremely Severe”. The instrument is administered through a combination of clinician interview and observations from the patient’s family from the previous 2-3 days. A pediatric version is also available. The BPRS is a well-established scale that is sensitive to changes and allows for broad evaluation. Item score grouping allows scoring on specific symptoms (i.e. mannerisms and posturing). However it is limited in scope as it focuses on positive and general psycholpathology. Please enter the score for the term that best describes the patient’s condition.
Sources
Overall, JE, Gorham, DR. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Psychological Reports. 1962; 10: 799-812. Overall, JE, Gorham DR: Introduction: the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BRPS): recent developments in ascertainment and scaling. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1988; 24: 97-98.
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