Are Ratings on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia Biased by Personality Traits?

C. G. Huber; A. Hoppe; A. Agorastos; B. Andresen; D. Naber; K. Schroeder

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298022

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2012; 45(04): 156-161
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298022

Original Paper

Are Ratings on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia Biased by Personality Traits?

C. G. Huber

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

,

A. Hoppe

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

,

A. Agorastos

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

,

B. Andresen

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

,

D. Naber

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

,

K. Schroeder

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to estimate the potential bias by personality traits for ratings on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Method:

Personality dimensions (five factor model), personality traits (SCID-II) and PANSS scores were assessed prospectively in 45 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

Results:

Borderline (r=0.34; p=0.021), avoidant (r=0.66; p<0.001) and depressive (r=0.51; p<0.001) personality traits were significantly correlated with the PANSS total score. There were significant correlations for all PANSS subscores with the exemption of PANSS positive. In multivariate analyses, the final models for PANSS total score and PANSS depressive explained a total of 45.3% and 54.3% of the variance. Avoidant traits could lead to a difference of 13.1 (95% CI: 5.6–20.7) points regarding PANSS total score, depressive traits could cause differences of 4.8 points (95% CI: 2.2–7.3) for PANSS depressive subscore.

Conclusion:

Although PANSS positive subscore and PANSS excited component are relatively robust against bias by personality traits, PANSS total score and the remaining subscores are affected to a clinically relevant degree. Outcome studies in SSD patients should control for personality traits.

Key words

five factor model - PANSS - personality traits - psychopathology - schizophrenia spectrum disorder - SCID-II

Full Text

References

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