Table 1.
Criteria for remission and relapse*
| Assessments | Score indicating remission | Threshold score indicating relapse |
|---|---|---|
| Specific items (PANSS21)†: | ||
| P1: Delusions | ≤2 | 3 |
| P2: Conceptual disorganisation | ≤3 | 4 |
| P3: Hallucinatory behaviour | ≤2 | 3 |
| P6: Suspiciousness | ≤4 | 5 |
| G9: Unusual thought content | ≤3 | 4 |
| Global scores (CGI27)‡ | ||
| Severity of illness | ≤2 | 3 |
| Improvement | NA | 5 |
CGI=clinical global impressions; NA=not applicable; PANSS=positive and negative syndrome scale.
*For remission, patients had to meet all specified criteria; for relapse, patients had to meet at least one of specific item criteria and both of global criteria, for at least one week.
†Scale comprises 30 items, with items specifically related to symptoms of psychosis selected. Each item is rated 1-7 using anchor statements for each 1 point interval. Scale starts with score of 1, which indicates absence of symptoms, followed by level(s) describing experiences that are “questionable and within limits of normal experience,” and then levels indicating definite psychotic symptoms. In several items, a higher rating level is needed to signify presence of a “psychotic” state. Therefore, the threshold is applied by using relevant anchor points for each item in scale.
‡Range of possible severity of illness scores: 1 (not mentally ill) to 7 (extremely ill). A score of 2 indicates borderline or questionable presence of mental illness; 3 indicates a mild level of severity. A score of 5 for improvement indicates that patient is minimally worse.