Associations of living arrangements with symptoms and functioning in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Living arrangements and accommodation are closely related, but no study had concurrently investigated their associations with outcomes in schizophrenia. This study seeks to describe and compare socio-demographic, clinical and functioning profiles of people with schizophrenia in different living arrangements and accommodation, and to examine the associations of living arrangements and accommodation with symptomatic remission and functioning. METHODS: Community dwelling outpatients with schizophrenia (n = 276) were inquired on living arrangements, accommodation, socio-demographics and assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS). Socio-demographics, symptoms and functioning of outpatients in different living arrangements and accommodation were compared. Symptomatic remission was investigated using logistic regression with living arrangements, socio-demographics and clinical variables as independent variables. Functioning was investigated using multiple regression with the same set of independent variables and the addition of PANSS factors. The same analyses were conducted with accommodation as independent variable. RESULTS: 185 (67.03%) participants lived with family and 195 (70.65%) participants lived in owned accommodation. People living with their spouses had significantly higher SOFAS, lower PANSS Total and PANSS Positive than people living with family, independently, or in rehabilitation centres. They also had lower PANSS Negative than people living with family and a higher likelihood to have achieved symptomatic remission. Types of accommodation was not associated with symptoms, symptomatic remission, and functioning. CONCLUSION: Living arrangements, but not types of accommodation, were associated with symptoms and functioning in schizophrenia. Family education and support is important to help maintain a conducive environment for people with schizophrenia. People living independently may need more support.

Large-Scale Network Topology Reveals Heterogeneity in Individuals With at Risk Mental State for Psychosis: Findings From the Longitudinal Youth-at-Risk Study.

Emerging evidence demonstrates heterogeneity in clinical outcomes of prodromal psychosis that only a small percentage of at-risk individuals eventually progress to full-blown psychosis. To examine the neurobiological underpinnings of this heterogeneity from a network perspective, we tested whether the early patterns of large-scale brain network topology were associated with risk of developing clinical psychosis. Task-free functional MRI data were acquired from subjects with At Risk Mental State (ARMS) for psychosis and healthy controls (HC). All individuals had no history of drug abuse and were not on antipsychotics. We performed functional connectomics analysis to identify patterns of system-level functional brain dysconnectivity associated with ARMS individuals with different outcomes. In comparison to HC and ARMS who did not transition to psychosis at follow-up (ARMS-NT), ARMS individuals who did (ARMS-T) showed marked brain functional dysconnectivity, characterized by loss of network segregation and disruption of network communities, especially the salience, default, dorsal attention, sensorimotor and limbic networks (P < 0.05 FWE-corrected, Cohen's d > 1.00), and was associated with baseline symptom severity. In contrast, we did not observe connectivity differences between ARMS-NT and HC individuals. Taken together, these results suggest a possible large-scale functional brain network topology phenotype related to risk of psychosis transition in ARMS individuals.

Age of onset of life-time mental disorders and treatment contact.

BACKGROUND: Early onset of mental disorders is a major social and public health concern as it affects individuals in their most formative years. The impact is more pronounced when early onset is also associated with treatment delay. Little is known about the age of onset (AOO) for mental disorders and its predictors in Singapore. METHOD: A national mental health survey was conducted among adult residents aged 18 years and above in Singapore. The composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI 3.0) was used to establish the life-time diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcohol abuse and dependence, and the age of onset as well as any subsequent treatment contact. RESULTS: A total of 6,616 respondents (mean age of 43.9 years) participated in the survey giving a response rate of 75.9 %. The median AOO for having any one of the mental disorders was 22 years with variation among the different disorders. Predictors for AOO varied across the mental disorders. Only 8 % had sought any treatment in the first year after onset. Males, those belonging to Malay and Indian ethnicities and 50+ age cohorts were less likely to have made treatment contact in the year of onset. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the respondents with any life-time mental disorder would have its onset by age of 22 years, and very few had sought treatment within the first year from onset. The study also identified socio-demographic predictors associated with AOO for mental disorders and delayed treatment contact, thus highlighting a vulnerable subpopulation that can be targeted for outreach and early interventions.

Impact of negative symptoms on health-related quality of life in schizophrenia.

Evidence regarding the association of Negative Symptoms (NS) dimensions with Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is limited and no prior study has looked into contributions of NS domains on HRQoL. This study bridges the gap by examining the associations of NS, its two dimensions (Motivation and Pleasure, and Emotional Expressivity) and five domains (Anhedonia, Avolition, Asociality, Blunted affect and Alogia) with HRQoL in schizophrenia. 274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS). PANSS scores were mapped to EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D-5L) utility scores using an algorithm previously validated in Singapore, and the resulting EQ-5D-5L scores were used as a measure of HRQoL. Multiple linear regression analyses of the two NS dimensions and five NS domains against EQ-5D-5L showed that a lower severity of NS, specifically that of the Motivation and Pleasure (MAP) dimension and asociality domain was associated with higher HRQoL. Our findings highlight the importance of targeting NS, particularly MAP and asociality, in improving HRQoL in schizophrenia.

Impact of Cognitive Impairments on Health-Related Quality of Life in Schizophrenia.

The impact of cognitive impairments on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with schizophrenia is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between cognitive impairments and HRQoL in individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 609 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and a neurocognitive battery which comprised of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence matrix reasoning, the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation Test, Continuous Performance Tests-Identical Pairs, and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. A cognitive factor g was derived from the neurocognitive battery. EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D-5L) utility scores were derived from PANSS scores via a previously validated algorithm and used as a measure of HRQoL. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to examine the association between cognitive factor g and the EQ-5D-5L. Cognitive factor g (ß = 0.189, t = 4.956, p < 0.001) was found to be significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Age (ß = -0.258, t = -6.776, p < 0.001), sex (ß = 0.081, t = 2.117, p = 0.035), and being employed (ß = 0.091, t = 2.317, p = 0.021) were also significant predictors of EQ-5D-5L. Our results add to the extant literature on the burden cognitive impairments exact in individuals with schizophrenia. More research is needed to develop effective interventions for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.

Reappraising consent: conducting ethical psychiatric research in Singapore.

Singapore is legally restrictive when it comes to research involving minors. The age of majority is 21 and parental consent is required for participation in medical research. This article explores the age of majority and the issues related to obtaining consent for research in Singapore, focusing on "young adults" (17-21 years), using an example of a translational and clinical research project called the Longitudinal Youth at Risk Study (LYRIKS). It describes the unique legal and social conditions pertaining to the age of majority in Singapore, before presenting an argument for consideration as to whether the age of consent to participate in research should be reviewed. It concludes that rather than a set of doctrinaire rules for the age of participation in research, there should be an assessment of the kind of tasks that minors can assume themselves in respect to a specific project, and the degree of parental involvement.

Impact of drug-induced Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia on health-related quality of life in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Both drug-induced Parkinsonism (DIP) and tardive dyskinesia (TD) have been shown to be associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in schizophrenia, but few studies have examined their relative impact. AIMS: This study aimed to examine and compare the association of DIP and TD with HRQOL in schizophrenia. METHODS: In total, 903 patients with schizophrenia were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). EuroQoL five-dimensional (EQ-5D-5L) utility scores were derived from PANSS scores via a previously validated algorithm and used as a measure of HRQOL. RESULTS: In total, 160 (17.7%) participants had only DIP, 119 (13.2%) had only TD, and 123 (13.6%) had both DIP and TD. HRQOL was lowest for participants with both DIP and TD, followed by only DIP group, only TD group, and highest in the group with neither condition. HRQOL scores differed significantly between the four groups, F(3, 892) = 13.724, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.044). HRQOL of participants having only DIP or both DIP and TD was significantly lower than those having neither condition. There was no significant interaction between the presence of DIP and TD on the association with HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: DIP was the main antipsychotic-induced movement disorder associated with a poorer HRQOL in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, clinicians should focus on prevention, detection, and effective management of DIP to optimize HRQOL in patients with schizophrenia.

Defining negative symptoms remission in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to propose criteria for negative symptoms remission (NSR) in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 274 participants were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), BNSS and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Two criteria for NSR on the BNSS were proposed - NSR based on the BNSS domains scores (NSRBNSS_DOMAINS) and NSR based on 5 key items of the BNSS (NSRBNSS_5ITEMS). A SOFAS score of 61 and above was considered as functional remission (FR). Logistic regressions were run to examine the association between FR and NSR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the NSR criteria on FR. Kappa agreement statistic was used to evaluate the agreement between the two NSR criteria. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (32.5%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_DOMAINS criterion whereas 70 (25.6%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_5ITEMS criterion. The two NSR criteria had substantial agreement (Kappa statistic=0.797) with each other. Sixty-one (25.3%) participants were in FR. FR was significantly associated with NSR, irrespective of the criterion used. To predict FR, the Area Under the Curve for NSRBNSS_DOMAINS and NSRBNSS_5ITEMS were 0.761 (CI: 0.696-0.826, p<0.001) and 0.723 (CI: 0.656-0.790, p<0.001), respectively. Hence, both NSR criteria demonstrated a fair ability to discriminate between functional remitters and non-remitters. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the setting and needs, clinicians and researchers might employ either the full BNSS or an abbreviated 5-item BNSS scale to identify NSR in schizophrenia. More research is needed to further examine the validity of these criteria in schizophrenia.

Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk between clozapine and non-clozapine antipsychotic users with schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Clozapine use is associated with higher risks of metabolic side effects and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Thus, this study aims to establish and compare the cardiometabolic profiles between non-clozapine antipsychotic and clozapine users with schizophrenia. METHODS: Data from 88 non-clozapine and 166 clozapine users were extracted from existing databases - demographics, medications, smoking and medical histories, anthropometric parameters, serum lipid and fasting glucose levels. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was established using the AHA/NHLBI criteria. Cardiovascular risk profiles were established using the Framingham risk score (FRS). RESULTS: The clozapine group had significantly higher proportions of diagnosed hypertension (10.8 % vs. 3.4 %, p = 0.041), diabetes mellitus (15.7 % vs. 3.4 %, p = 0.003) and dyslipidemia (36.7 % vs. 12.5 %, p < 0.001). However, the non-clozapine antipsychotic group had poorer anthropometric, serum lipids and glucose levels. The prevalence rates of MetS in the clozapine and non-clozapine antipsychotic groups were not statistically significant at 42.8 % and 43.2 %, respectively. As for CVD risk, the non-clozapine antipsychotic group had significantly higher FRS (6.59 % vs. 6.12 %, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although clozapine users had higher rates of diagnosed metabolic conditions, other cardiometabolic parameters appeared better compared to non-clozapine antipsychotic users, which could be due to greater awareness, earlier detection and treatment. Regardless of the type of antipsychotic used, metabolic abnormalities are prevalent in individuals with schizophrenia; physical healthcare should be prioritised alongside mental healthcare in this group.

Association between negative symptom domains and happiness in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine the association between levels of self-reported happiness and different domains and subdomains of negative symptoms (NS), as well as symptomatic remission in schizophrenia. METHODS: 274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association between levels of happiness and increasingly specific CAINS NS domains and subdomains, as well as symptomatic remission. RESULTS: 177 (64.6%) participants rated themselves as happy. NS, specifically motivation and pleasure related to social activities (MAP Social) (B=-0.402, t=-4.805, p<0.001), and depressive symptoms (B=-0.760, t=-7.102, p<0.001) were significantly associated with levels of happiness. Individuals in symptomatic remission rated themselves happier than those who were not in remission (mean composite SHS: 5.10 [SD=1.18] versus 4.61 [SD=1.16], p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In this largest study on happiness in schizophrenia, we found that the MAP domain of NS, MAP social subdomain and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with levels of happiness. Additionally, individuals in symptomatic remission rated themselves happier than those who were not in remission. Symptom management remains important in the holistic care plan for individuals with schizophrenia.

Defining negative symptoms remission in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to propose criteria for negative symptoms remission (NSR) in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 274 participants were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), BNSS and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Two criteria for NSR on the BNSS were proposed - NSR based on the BNSS domains scores (NSRBNSS_DOMAINS) and NSR based on 5 key items of the BNSS (NSRBNSS_5ITEMS). A SOFAS score of 61 and above was considered as functional remission (FR). Logistic regressions were run to examine the association between FR and NSR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the NSR criteria on FR. Kappa agreement statistic was used to evaluate the agreement between the two NSR criteria. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (32.5%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_DOMAINS criterion whereas 70 (25.6%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_5ITEMS criterion. The two NSR criteria had substantial agreement (Kappa statistic=0.797) with each other. Sixty-one (25.3%) participants were in FR. FR was significantly associated with NSR, irrespective of the criterion used. To predict FR, the Area Under the Curve for NSRBNSS_DOMAINS and NSRBNSS_5ITEMS were 0.761 (CI: 0.696-0.826, p<0.001) and 0.723 (CI: 0.656-0.790, p<0.001), respectively. Hence, both NSR criteria demonstrated a fair ability to discriminate between functional remitters and non-remitters. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the setting and needs, clinicians and researchers might employ either the full BNSS or an abbreviated 5-item BNSS scale to identify NSR in schizophrenia. More research is needed to further examine the validity of these criteria in schizophrenia.

Large-scale evaluation of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) symptom architecture in schizophrenia.

Although the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is widely utilized in schizophrenia research, variability in specific item loading exist, hindering reproducibility and generalizability of findings across schizophrenia samples. We aim to establish a common PANSS factor structure from a large multi-ethnic sample and validate it against a meta-analysis of existing PANSS models. Schizophrenia participants (N = 3511) included in the current study were part of the Singapore Translational and Clinical Research Program (STCRP) and the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials for Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify the factor structure of PANSS and validated with a meta-analysis (N = 16,171) of existing PANSS models. Temporal stability of the PANSS model and generalizability to individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis were evaluated. A five-factor solution best fit the PANSS data. These were the i) Positive, ii) Negative, iii) Cognitive/disorganization, iv) Depression/anxiety and v) Hostility factors. Convergence of PANSS symptom architecture between EFA model and meta-analysis was observed. Modest longitudinal reliability was observed. The schizophrenia derived PANSS factor model fit the UHR population, but not vice versa. We found that two other domains, Social Amotivation (SA) and Diminished Expression (DE), were nested within the negative symptoms factor. Here, we report one of the largest transethnic factorial structures of PANSS symptom domains (N = 19,682). Evidence reported here serves as crucial consolidation of a common PANSS structure that could aid in furthering our understanding of schizophrenia.

Vocational Profile and Correlates of Employment in People With Schizophrenia: The Role of Avolition.

OBJECTIVE: Employment was associated with recovery in individuals with schizophrenia. Our study aimed to delineate the vocational profile and investigate factors associated with likelihood of employment in individuals with schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 276 community dwelling outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited; 274 completed the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS). Information on employment status, work outcomes and demographics were collected. Occupation was coded in accordance with the Singapore standard occupational classification. Either BNSS Motivation and Pleasure (MAP) and Emotional Expressivity (EE) or BNSS five-factor (Anhedonia, Asociality, Avolition, Blunted Affect, Alogia) were examined with PANSS factors and demographics in logistic regression with employment status and working full-time as outcome variables. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-seven (46.01%) participants were employed; 65 (51.18%) worked full-time. In the model with BNSS MAP-EE, MAP (OR=0.897, CI=0.854-0.941) and presence of physical comorbidity (OR=0.533, CI=0.304-0.937) were associated with reduced likelihood of employment; female sex (OR=0.286, CI=0.128 - 0.637) was associated with working part-time. In the model with BNSS five-factor, Avolition (OR=0.541, CI=0.440-0.666), and PANSS Positive (OR=0.924, CI=0.855-0.997) were associated with reduced likelihood of employment; female sex (OR=0.289, CI=0.126 - 0.662) and Avolition (OR=0.644, CI=0.475 - 0.872) were associated with working part-time. DISCUSSION: Our study described the vocational profile and correlates of employment in a developed urban Asian country. Negative symptoms, particularly MAP and Avolition, positive symptoms, and physical comorbidity reduced an individual's likelihood of employment, while female sex and Avolition were associated with working part-time. Efforts to identify and address these factors are necessary to encourage employment in individuals with schizophrenia.

Clinical determinants of social media use in individuals with schizophrenia.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of social media use and its association with symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. 265 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed. Symptoms were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). Information on social media use was collected. Logistic regressions were used to explore the association between social media use and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants. Of the 265 study participants, 139 (52.5%) used social media in the last week. Fifty-six (21.1%) of the study participants used more than one social media site in the last week. Facebook was the most popular social media site. Age, highest education level, monthly household income, PANSS negative and depression factor scores were significantly associated with social media use. Amongst negative symptoms, the CAINS motivation-pleasure (MAP) social factor scores were found to be significantly associated with social media use. Our study results suggested that the assessment of social interactions via social media should be considered in the clinical assessment of individuals with schizophrenia. Secondly, our results suggested that the development of treatment programs supported by social media platforms may be useful for certain groups of individuals with schizophrenia. Younger patients with above secondary level education, higher family income and lower symptom severity are likely to be avid users of social media and would be suitable candidates to receive illness related information or clinical interventions via social media.

Impact of distress related to attenuated psychotic symptoms in individuals at ultra high risk of psychosis: Findings from the Longitudinal Youth at Risk Study.

AIM: Recent studies have highlighted that attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) are an important source of distress in ultra high risk (UHR) individuals and that this distress is related to transition to psychosis (TTP). This study examined distress associated with APS in UHR individuals and investigated its association with TTP. METHODS: The Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS) was used to identify 173 UHR individuals, who were included as participants in the study. Distress related to APS was self-reported. Functioning was assessed on the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale. Associations between each of the 4 APS subscales in the CAARMS-non-bizarre ideas (NBI), perceptual abnormalities (PA), unusual thought content (UTC) and disorganized speech (DS)-with its distress level were examined. RESULTS: Of the 173 UHR participants, 154 (89%) reported distress related to one or more APS. NBI was rated to be the most distressing out of the 4 APS by the highest number of participants (32.9%) compared to UTC (12.1%), PA (24.9%) and DS (2.9%). Mean distress scores were significantly associated with CAARMS composite scores (P < .001). However, there was no significant relationship between distress scores and functioning. Both mean distress scores (OR = 1.034, P = .029) and functioning (OR = 0.892, P = .022) were significant predictors of transition to psychosis at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence to link subjective distress experienced by UHR individuals to APS and to their subsequent clinical outcomes and has significant clinical implications.

Validation of the Brief Negative Symptom Scale and its association with functioning.

INTRODUCTION: The Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) includes five domains of negative symptoms suggested by the NIMH Consensus Development Conference (anhedonia, asociality, avolition, blunted affect, and alogia), which could be clustered into two factors - Motivation-Pleasure (MAP) and Emotional Expressivity (EE). Our study aims to examine the psychometric properties of BNSS, and its association with functioning. METHODS: 274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the BNSS, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale (SAS). Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent, discriminant, and construct validity were examined. Factor structure of BNSS was explored using confirmatory factor analyses. Association between GAF and BNSS was examined with GAF as the dependent variable and BNSS Total, MAP and EE, and BNSS five domains as independent variables in three multiple regression models after controlling for covariates. RESULTS: BNSS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.880) and validity. The five-factor model fit the data better than the two-factor model; a second-order model was superior to both models. More severe symptoms on BNSS Total (B = -0.438, p < .001), MAP (B = -0.876, p < .001), Avolition (B = -2.503, p < .001) and Asociality (B = -0.950, p = .001) were associated with lower GAF. CONCLUSION: Our results lend support to the use of BNSS in clinical practice and in future research into negative symptoms. Composite scores could be computed using either the five-factor or second-order models. Negative symptoms, particularly MAP, avolition and asociality, were associated with functioning.

Clinical utility of the Negative Symptom Assessment-16 in individuals with schizophrenia.

This study examined the clinical utility of the Negative Symptom Assessment-16 (NSA-16) in schizophrenia. 274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the NSA-16, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Assessment for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and the Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale (SAS). Factor analyses were conducted and Cronbach's alpha was computed. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. The 5-factor model of the NSA-16 did not give good fit statistics from our sample. Exploratory factor analysis on a randomly selected split-half of the sample followed by confirmatory factor analysis on the remaining sample supported a 4-factor structure with 12 items. The factors were: Restricted speech, Poor quality of speech, Affective blunting and Amotivation. The NSA-16 with the 12 items was termed as the NSA-12. The NSA-12 showed good internal reliability. The NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating had strong correlations with CAINS total and PANSS negative factor scores, suggesting good convergent validity. Weak correlations of the NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating with PANSS positive, CDSS and SAS scores suggested good divergent validity. The NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating were strongly and inversely associated with SOFAS and positively associated with NSA-12 global level of functioning. In conclusion, the NSA-12 is useful to evaluate negative symptoms in clinical and research settings in individuals with schizophrenia. Our study results also support a 4-factor structure of the NSA-12 in outpatients with schizophrenia.

Assessing negative symptoms in schizophrenia: Validity of the clinical assessment interview for negative symptoms in Singapore.

This study aimed to examine the validity of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) in Singapore. 274 participants with schizophrenia were assessed on the CAINS, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and the Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale (SES). Factor analyses were conducted and Cronbach's coefficient alpha was calculated. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlations. The 2-factor model of the CAINS failed to fit our data. Exploratory factor analysis of a randomly selected split-half of the sample yielded four factors: motivation-pleasure (MAP) social, MAP vocational, MAP recreational and expression (EXP), accounting for 73.94% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis on the remaining sample supported this factor structure. Cronbach's alpha for the CAINS was 0.770. Significant correlations were observed between the CAINS total and the SANS total and PANSS negative subscale scores. Good divergent validity was shown by insignificant correlations with PANSS positive subscale score and CDSS total score. The MAP social and recreational factor scores had moderate correlations with the SANS anhedonia-asociality subscale scores, whereas the MAP vocational factor had the highest correlation with the avolition-apathy subscale of the SANS. EXP factor score correlated strongly with the SANS affective flattening and alogia subscales scores. In conclusion, the CAINS has good psychometric properties and can be used by clinicians to assess negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia in the local population.

Clinical utility of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia in individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis.

There is a pressing need for reliable and valid rating scales to assess and measure depression in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical utility of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) in individuals at UHR of psychosis. 167 individuals at UHR of psychosis were included as participants in this study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, CDSS, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Global Assessment of Functioning were administered. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and factor analyses were performed. Cronbach's alpha was computed. Correlations between CDSS factor scores and other clinical variables were examined. The median CDSS total score was 5.0 (IQR 1.0-9.0). The area under ROC curve was 0.886 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.855. A score of 7 on the CDSS yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity in detecting depression in UHR individuals. Exploratory factor analysis of the CDSS yielded two factors: depression-hopelessness and self depreciation-guilt, which was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Further analysis showed that the depression-hopelessness factor predicted functioning; whereas the self depreciation-guilt factor was related to the severity of the attenuated psychotic symptoms. In conclusion, the CDSS demonstrates good psychometric properties when used to evaluate depression in individuals at UHR of psychosis. Our study results also support a two-factor structure of the CDSS in UHR individuals.

Defining negative symptoms remission in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale / Criterios de remisión de síntomas negativos utilizando la Escala Breve de Síntomas Negativos (BNSS)

Introduction: This study aimed to propose criteria for negative symptoms remission (NSR) in schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS).Material and methods: 274 participants were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), BNSS and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Two criteria for NSR on the BNSS were proposed – NSR based on the BNSS domains scores (NSRBNSS_DOMAINS) and NSR based on 5 key items of the BNSS (NSRBNSS_5ITEMS). A SOFAS score of 61 and above was considered as functional remission (FR). Logistic regressions were run to examine the association between FR and NSR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the NSR criteria on FR. Kappa agreement statistic was used to evaluate the agreement between the two NSR criteria.Results: Eighty-nine (32.5%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_DOMAINS criterion whereas 70 (25.6%) participants fulfilled NSRBNSS_5ITEMS criterion. The two NSR criteria had substantial agreement (Kappa statistic=0.797) with each other. Sixty-one (25.3%) participants were in FR. FR was significantly associated with NSR, irrespective of the criterion used. To predict FR, the Area Under the Curve for NSRBNSS_DOMAINS and NSRBNSS_5ITEMS were 0.761 (CI: 0.696–0.826, p<0.001) and 0.723 (CI: 0.656–0.790, p<0.001), respectively. Hence, both NSR criteria demonstrated a fair ability to discriminate between functional remitters and non-remitters. Conclusions: Depending on the setting and needs, clinicians and researchers might employ either the full BNSS or an abbreviated 5-item BNSS scale to identify NSR in schizophrenia. More research is needed to further examine the validity of these criteria in schizophrenia. (AU)

Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio fue proponer criterios para la remisión de síntomas negativos (NSR) en la esquizofrenia utilizando la Escala Breve de Síntomas Negativos (BNSS). Material y métodos: 274 participantes fueron evaluados con la Escala de Síndrome Positivo y Negativo (PANSS), BNSS y la Escala de Evaluación del Funcionamiento Social y Ocupacional (SOFAS). Se propusieron dos criterios para NSR en el BNSS: NSR basado en las puntuaciones de los dominios BNSS (NSRBNSS_DOMAINS) y NSR basado en 5 elementos clave del BNSS (NSRBNSS_5ITEMS). Una puntuación SOFAS de 61 y superior se consideró como remisión funcional (FR). Se realizaron regresiones logísticas para examinar la asociación entre FR y NSR. El análisis de la curva de características operativas del receptor (ROC) se realizó para los criterios NSR en FR. Se utilizó la estadística de concordancia Kappa para evaluar la concordancia entre los dos criterios de NSR.Resultados: Ochenta y nueve (32,5%) participantes cumplieron el criterio NSRBNSS_DOMAINS mientras que 70 (25,6%) participantes cumplieron el criterio NSRBNSS_5ITEMS. Los dos criterios de NSR tuvieron un acuerdo sustancial (estadística Kappa = 0,797) entre sí. Sesenta y un (25,3%) participantes estaban en FR. La FR se asoció significativamente con la NSR, independientemente del criterio utilizado. Para predecir la FR, el área bajo la curva para NSRBNSS_DOMAINS y NSRBNSS_5ITEMS fueron 0,761 (IC: 0,696-0,826, p <0,001) y 0,723 (IC: 0,656-0,790, p <0,001), respectivamente. Por lo tanto, ambos criterios NSR demostraron una capacidad adecuada para discriminar entre remitentes funcionales y no remitentes. Conclusiones: Dependiendo del entorno y las necesidades, los médicos e investigadores pueden emplear la BNSS completa o una escala BNSS abreviada de 5 ítems para identificar la NSR en la esquizofrenia. Se necesita más investigación para examinar a fondo la validez de estos criterios en la esquizofrenia. (AU)