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Review
. 2023 Jul 27;9(1):45.
doi: 10.1038/s41537-023-00380-x.

The Brief negative Symptom Scale (BNSS): a systematic review of measurement properties

Lucia Weigel  1 , Sophia Wehr  1 , Silvana Galderisi  2 , Armida Mucci  2 , John Davis  3 , Giulia Maria Giordano  2 , Stefan Leucht  4
Affiliations
Review

The Brief negative Symptom Scale (BNSS): a systematic review of measurement properties

Lucia Weigel et al. Schizophrenia (Heidelb). .

Abstract

Background: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are linked with poor functioning and quality of life. Therefore, appropriate measurement tools to assess negative symptoms are needed. The NIMH-MATRICS Consensus defined five domains for negative symptoms, which The Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) covers.

Methods: We used the COSMIN guidelines for systematic reviews to evaluate the quality of psychometric data of the BNSS scale as a Clinician-Rated Outcome Measure (ClinROM).

Results: The search strategy resulted in the inclusion of 17 articles. When using the risk of bias checklist, there was a generally good quality in reporting of structural validity and hypothesis testing. Internal consistency, reliability and cross-cultural validity were of poorer quality. ClinROM development and content validity showed inadequate results. According to the updated criteria of good measurement properties, structural validity, internal consistency and interrater reliability showed good results, while hypothesis testing showed poorer results. Cross-cultural validity and test-retest reliability were indeterminate. The updated GRADE approach resulted in a moderate grade.

Conclusions: We can potentially recommend the use of the BNSS as a concise tool to rate negative symptoms. Due to weaknesses in certain domains further validations are warranted.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following competing interests: S.G. received advisory board/consultant fees, or honoraria/expenses from the following drug companies: Angelini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gedeon Richter-Recordati, Innova Pharma-Recordati Group, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Recordati Pharmaceuticals, Rovi Pharma and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals outside the submitted work. A.M. received advisory board or consultant fees from the following drug companies: Angelini, Gedeon. Richter Bulgaria, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Rovi. Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. S.L. has received honoraria as a consultant and/or advisor and/or for lectures and/or for educational material from Alkermes, Angelini, Eisai, Gedeon Richter, Janssen, Lundbeck, Medichem, Medscape, Merck Sharpp and Dome, Mitshubishi, Neurotorium, NovoNordisk, Otsuka, Recordati, Roche, Rovi, Sanofi Aventis, TEVA in the last three years. L.W., S.W., J.D. and G.M.G. have no conflict of interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flowchart.
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