Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
Also written as: BPRS — Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
A clinician-rated instrument measuring the severity of psychiatric symptoms across multiple domains.
Full Definition
The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) is an 18-item or 24-item clinician-administered rating scale used to assess the severity of psychiatric symptoms in adults with mental illness. Originally developed by Overall and Gorham, it evaluates symptoms including anxiety, depression, hallucinations, delusions, and behavioral disturbances. Each item is rated from 1 (not present) to 7 (extremely severe). The BPRS is widely used in clinical trials, research studies, and clinical practice to monitor treatment response and symptom changes over time.
Usage
Usage note: Specify version (18-item vs. 24-item) when documenting; use BPRS after first mention.
In Context
- "The patient's Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score improved from 65 to 42 after six weeks of treatment." — Progress evaluation
- "BPRS ratings will be completed weekly during the acute phase of treatment." — Assessment schedule