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. 2012 Dec;142(1-3):88-92.
doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.10.012. Epub 2012 Nov 3.

Next-generation negative symptom assessment for clinical trials: validation of the Brief Negative Symptom Scale

Gregory P Strauss  1 , William R Keller, Robert W Buchanan, James M Gold, Bernard A Fischer, Robert P McMahon, Lauren T Catalano, Adam J Culbreth, William T Carpenter, Brian Kirkpatrick
Affiliations

Next-generation negative symptom assessment for clinical trials: validation of the Brief Negative Symptom Scale

Gregory P Strauss et al. Schizophr Res. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS), a next-generation rating instrument developed in response to the NIMH sponsored consensus development conference on negative symptoms. Participants included 100 individuals with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who completed a clinical interview designed to assess negative, positive, disorganized, and general psychiatric symptoms, as well as functional outcome. A battery of anhedonia questionnaires and neuropsychological tests were also administered. Results indicated that the BNSS has excellent internal consistency and temporal stability, as well as good convergent and discriminant validity in its relationships with other symptom rating scales, functional outcome, self-reported anhedonia, and neuropsychological test scores. Given its brevity (13-items, 15-minute interview) and good psychometric characteristics, the BNSS can be considered a promising new instrument for use in clinical trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

Dr. Carpenter served as a consultant for Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Bristol Mysers Squib, Genentech, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Astra Zeneca, and Merck. Dr. Kirkpatrick has served as a consultant for Sunovion, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Buchanan has served as consultant or on the advisory boards of Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Astellas, Bristol-Meyer-Squibb, Cypress Bioscience, EnVivo. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., NuPathe, Inc, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, Solvay Pharmaceutical, Takeda, and Wyeth. Dr. Buchanan is also a DSMB member for Cephalon, Pfizer, and Otsuka. Dr. Gold has served as a consultant for Roche, Merck, Pfizer, Bristol Meyers Squibb, and Glaxo Smith Kline.

Dr. McMahon has consulted for Amgen. Drs. Buchanan and Fischer receive royalties from UpToDate Incorporated. Dr. Strauss, Dr. Keller, Mr. Culbreth, and Ms. Catalano have no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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