PANSS Scale — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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EasySchizophrenia & PsychosisPANSS ScaleMRCPsych Paper B

Which clinician-rated outcome measure comprises 30 items assessing positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology in schizophrenia?

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Correct answer: E — PANSS

The correct answer is E, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). It is a clinician-rated, 30-item measure used to assess psychopathology in schizophrenia, with positive-symptom, negative-symptom and general psychopathology subscales. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are brief self-report measures for depressive and generalised anxiety symptoms respectively. The Y-BOCS is clinician-rated but measures the severity of obsessions and compulsions. The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale for the severity of depressive symptoms. Thus, the combination of schizophrenia, 30 items and the three specified symptom domains uniquely identifies PANSS.

Reference: Royal College of Psychiatrists. Outcome measures in psychiatry, College Report CR240, Psychoses section, 2024. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/college-report-cr240-outcome-measures-in-psychiatry.pdf?sfvrsn=3d5adc4e_11