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Pharmacopsychiatry 2008; 41(5): 190-195
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1078745
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Standardized Remission Criteria in Schizophrenia: Descriptive Validity and Comparability with Previously Used Outcome Measures

M. Jäger 1 , T. Messer 2 , G. Laux 3 , H. Pfeiffer 4 , D. Naber 5 , L. G. Schmidt 6 , W. Gaebel 7 , J. Klosterkötter 8 , I. Heuser 9 , W. Maier 10 , M. R. Lemke 11 , E. Rüther 12 , G. Buchkremer 13 , M. Gastpar 14 , M. Riedel 1 , R. Bottlender 1 , A. Strauß 1 , H.-J. Möller 1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
  • 2Psychiatric Clinic, District Hospital,Augsburg, Germany
  • 3Psychiatric Clinic, Inn-Salzach Hospital,Wasserburg/Gabersee, Germany
  • 4Psychiatric Clinic, Isar-Amper Hospital, München-Haar, Germany
  • 5Department of Psychiatry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 6Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
  • 7Department of Psychiatry, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 8Department of Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • 9Department of Psychiatry, Charité Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
  • 10Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • 11Psychiatric Clinic, Rheinische Kliniken, Bonn, Germany
  • 12Department of Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 13Department of Psychiatry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
  • 14Department of Psychiatry, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received 20.11.2007 revised 12.03.2008

accepted 14.03.2008

Publication Date:
01 September 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Standardized consensus criteria for remission in schizophrenia were recently proposed. As yet, the validity of these criteria and their comparability with previously used outcome measures are unclear.

Methods: The symptom-severity component of the proposed remission criteria was applied to 288 inpatients who fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia. Global functioning and psychopathological symptoms were assessed using GAF, PANSS, SANS, HAM-D and CDSS.

Results: When patients with symptom remission at discharge from hospitalization (n=158, 54.9%) were compared to those without symptom remission, significant differences were found with respect to the global functioning (GAF) and all observed psychopathological symptom dimensions. The percentage agreement with previously used outcome measures ranged between 52.6 and 80.0%, the kappa values between 0.120 and 0.594. A moderate accordance (kappa value: 0.495) was found with a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) severity score of three or less.

Discussion: The results indicate a high descriptive validity of the symptom-severity component of the proposed remission definition. However, the new criteria differ partially from previously used outcome measures. This aspect should be considered in the interpretation of clinical trials.

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Correspondence

M. Jäger

Department of Psychiatry II

Ulm University

BKH Günzburg

Ludwig-Heilmeyer-Str. 2

89312 Günzburg

Germany

Phone: +49/8221/96 22 04

Fax: +49/8221/96 27 37

Email: Markus.Jaeger@bkh-guenzburg.de