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Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
Author and year
It was developed by a team of researchers led by Stanley R. Kay, Abraham Fiszbein, and
Lewis Opler in 1987.
Introduction
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a tool used to assess the severity of
symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. The PANSS helps clinicians evaluate both positive
symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions, and negative symptoms, like social withdrawal and
lack of motivation. It’s an important tool in understanding and managing schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that can be
categorized into positive, negative, and general psychopathology domains. The PANSS is
designed to assess all three domains, providing clinicians and researchers with a holistic
understanding of the individual’s symptomatology.
The PANSS consists of 30 items, each rated on a scale from 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme), capturing
the severity of both positive and negative symptoms, as well as general psychopathology.
Objectives
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a widely used tool in the field of
psychiatry to assess the severity and nature of symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. The
objective of PANSS is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of both positive and negative
symptoms, as well as general psychopathology associated with schizophrenia.
1. Assessing Positive Symptoms:
The PANSS evaluates positive symptoms, which are characterized by an excess or distortion
of normal functioning. These symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking,
and abnormal behavior. By assessing the severity of these symptoms, healthcare professionals
can gain insights into the presence and intensity of psychosis.
2. Assessing Negative Symptoms:
The PANSS also evaluates negative symptoms, which involve a decrease or loss of normal
functioning. These symptoms include reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal,
diminished motivation, and decreased speech. Evaluating the severity of negative symptoms
helps in understanding the impact on an individual’s ability to engage in daily activities and
maintain relationships.
3. Assessing General Psychopathology:
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In addition to positive and negative symptoms, the PANSS assesses general psychopathology.
This component focuses on symptoms that do not fall strictly into the positive or negative
category but are still relevant to the overall assessment of schizophrenia. It includes symptoms
such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments.
By using the PANSS, healthcare professionals can obtain a detailed and standardized
assessment of symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. This information aids in diagnosis,
treatment planning, and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions over time. The PANSS
provides a comprehensive picture of the symptomatology associated with schizophrenia,
allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the individual’s condition.
Question Structure
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a structured questionnaire used to
assess symptom severity in individuals with schizophrenia. It consists of 30 items grouped into
three subscales: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology. Each
item is rated on a 7-point scale based on the severity of the symptom observed, ranging from
absent to extreme.
Response Recording
Responses on the PANSS questionnaire are recorded by clinicians during interviews with
patients, assigning scores to each item based on observed symptom severity. The questionnaire's
structure allows for the assessment of positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions),
negative symptoms (e.g., emotional withdrawal, blunted affect), and general psychopathology
(e.g., anxiety, depression). Scores across all items are summed to derive the total PANSS score,
providing an objective measure of symptom severity.
Administration
Test materials
To conduct the PANSS scale, clinicians need the questionnaire consisting of 30 items
grouped into positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology categories.
Each item is rated on a 7-point scale from absent to extreme
Demographic Information of the Client
Name F.K
Gender Female
Age 25
Education BS
No of Siblings 5
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Behavioral Observations
During the administration of the PANSS scale, clinicians make behavioral observations to
assess symptom severity across various domains. They observe the patient's demeanor, speech,
and interactions to evaluate positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, negative
symptoms like emotional withdrawal and blunted affect, and general psychopathology including
anxiety and depression. Clinicians note the presence or absence of specific behaviors and their
intensity, duration, and frequency.
Scoring and interpretation
Scoring the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) involves evaluating 30
items across three subscales: Positive, Negative, and General Psychopathology. Each item is
rated on a 7-point Likert scale based on the severity and frequency of symptoms observed over
the past week . The PANSS is composed of 3 subscales: Positive Scale, Negative Scale, and
General Psychopathology Scale.The range for the Positive and Negative Scales is 7-49, and the
range for the General Psychopathology Scale is 16-112.After rating each item, scores are
summed to calculate a total PANSS score, providing an objective measure of symptom severity
in schizophrenia.
Table 1.
Quantitative Scoring
Sub-scales Score range Scores Severity level
Positive 7-49 17 Mild
Negative 7-49 22 moderate
Psychopathology 16-112 31 severe
Qualitative Interpretation
The scores presented in the table reflect a balanced mixture of positive and negative
attributes alongside a moderate level of psychopathological symptoms. The moderate positive
subscale score suggests the presence of some positive qualities but indicates room for
enhancement. Conversely, the moderate negative subscale score indicates a level of negative
emotions or tendencies, though not overwhelming. However, the moderate psychopathology
score suggests the presence of psychological distress that may be impacting daily functioning to
some degree. While falling within the mild to moderate range overall, the total score indicates a
notable level of psychological distress, signaling the importance of further assessment and
potential intervention to address these concerns and support overall mental well-being.
Reference
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1. Kay, S.R., Fiszbein, A., & Opler, L.A. (1987). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
(PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 13(2), 261-276.
2. Leucht, S., Kane, J.M., Kissling, W., Hamann, J., Etschel, E., & Engel, R. (2005).
Clinical implications of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores. The British Journal of
Psychiatry, 187(4), 366-371.
