PANSS score
Also written as: PANSS — Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale rating used to measure severity of schizophrenia symptoms.
Full Definition
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a standardized assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations), negative symptoms (social withdrawal, lack of emotion), and general psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. The scale consists of 30 items rated from 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme), providing subscale scores and a total score. PANSS scores are commonly used in clinical trials and treatment monitoring to track symptom changes over time. Documentation should include the assessment date, rater qualifications, and comparison to previous scores when available.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize as PANSS when using acronym. Include subscale scores when clinically relevant.
In Context
- "PANSS score decreased from 95 to 72 after eight weeks of antipsychotic treatment." — Treatment outcome report
- "Baseline PANSS score will be established prior to medication trial initiation." — Research protocol