Symptoms and functioning: a content analysis of the PANSS under the ICF framework.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation
• Health Classification Systems

Background:

• The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a widely used tool for assessing schizophrenia symptoms.
• The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) provides a standardized framework for describing health and disability.
• Understanding the overlap between these instruments is crucial for comprehensive patient assessment and care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the content of the PANSS with the ICF.
• To determine the extent to which PANSS items are represented in the ICF Core Sets (ICF-CS) for schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Thirty PANSS items were systematically linked to ICF categories by two experienced health professionals.
• Established rules for linking items were applied to ensure consistency.

Main Results:

• PANSS items mapped to 42 unique ICF categories, primarily within the 'Body functions' component (e.g., thought and emotional functions).
• The 'Activities and participation' component, specifically 'Complex interpersonal interactions,' was also frequently linked.
• PANSS items covered 18% of the Comprehensive ICF-CS and 40% of the Brief ICF-CS for schizophrenia.
• No PANSS items were linked to 'Body structures' or 'Environmental factors' components.

Conclusions:

• The PANSS comprehensively covers ICF content related to mental and movement functions in schizophrenia.
• The scale also addresses some aspects of interpersonal relationships.
• The findings highlight the PANSS's alignment with the ICF framework, particularly for functional aspects of schizophrenia.