Rating scales in research: The case of negative symptoms

Sue Thiemann*, John G. Csernansky, Philip A. Berger

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two measures of negative schizophrenic symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the withdrawal-retardation subscale of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, are found to be redundant when used together. Studies incorporating redundant measures have numerous disadvantages. Using multiple scales increases the cost and effort for the investigator, places a greater burden on research subjects, and compromises the interpretability of findings by increasing the probability of both Type I and Type II errors. A strategy for evaluating the use of multiple rating scales is suggested, and the theoretical basis of this strategy is discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)47-55
Number of pages9
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1987

Funding

Acknowledgment. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, M H-30854, to the Norris Mental Health Clinical Research Center at Stanford University (M HCRC), a grant from the Research Service of the Veterans Administration to the Schizophrenia Biologic Research Center (SBRC) at Palo ,Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center, and a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to the Stanford Node of the MacArthur Network on the Psychobiology of Depression. The authors thank Pamela J. Elliott for manuscript preparation and editorial advice.

Keywords

  • Symptom assessment
  • rating scales
  • redundant measures

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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