Table 1.

Definition of factor item on the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS)

Factor item	Definition
Delusions	Beliefs which are unfounded, unrealistic, and idiosyncratic
Hallucinations	Verbal report or behavior indicating perceptions which are not generated by external stimuli. May occur in the auditory, visual, olfactory, or somatic realms
Grandiosity	Exaggerated self-opinion and unrealistic convictions of superiority, including delusions of extraordinary abilities, wealth, knowledge, fame, power, and moral righteousness
Suspiciousness/persecution	Unrealistic or exaggerated ideas of persecution, as reflected in guardedness, a distrustful attitude, suspicious hypervigilance, or frank delusions that others mean one harm
Unusual thought content	Thinking characterized by strange, fantastic, or bizarre ideas, ranging from those which are remote or atypical to those which are distorted, illogical, and patently absurd
Blunted affect	Diminished emotional responsiveness as characterized by a reduction in facial expression, modulation of feelings, and communicative gestures
Emotional withdrawal	Lack of interest in, involvement with, and affective commitment to life’s events
Poor rapport	Lack of interpersonal empathy, openness in conversation, and sense of closeness, interest, or involvement with the interviewer
Passive/apathetic social withdrawal	Diminished interest or initiative in social interactions due to passivity, apathy, anergy, or avolition. This leads to reduced interpersonal involvement and neglect of activities of daily living
Lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation	Reduction in the normal flow of communication associated with apathy, avolition, defensiveness, or cognitive deficit. This is manifested by diminished fluidity and productivity of the verbal- interactional process
Motor retardation	Reduction in motor activity as reflected in slowing or lessening of movements and speech, diminished responsiveness to stimuli, and reduced body tone
Conceptual disorganization	Disorganized process of thinking characterized by disruption of goal-directed sequencing, e.g., circumstantiality, tangentiality, loose associations, non-sequiturs, gross illogicality, or thought block
Difficulty in abstract thinking	Impairment in the use of the abstract-symbolic mode of thinking, as evidenced by difficulty in classification, forming generalizations, and proceeding beyond concrete or egocentric thinking in problem- solving tasks
Abnormal mannerisms and posturing	Unnatural movements or posture as characterized by an awkward, stilted, disorganized, or bizarre appearance
Poor attention	Failure in focused alertness manifested by poor concentration, distractibility from internal and external stimuli, and difficulty in harnessing, sustaining, or shifting focus to new stimuli
Excitement	Hyperactivity as reflected in accelerated motor behavior, heightened responsivity to stimuli, hypervigilance, or excessive mood lability
Hostility	Verbal and nonverbal expressions of anger and resentment, including sarcasm, passive-aggressive behavior, verbal abuse, and assaultiveness
Uncooperativeness	Active refusal to comply with the will of significant others, including the interviewer, hospital staff, or family, which may be associated with distrust, defensiveness, stubbornness, negativism, rejection of authority, hostility, or belligerence
Poor impulse control	Disordered regulation and control of action on inner urges resulting in sudden, unmodulated, arbitrary, or misdirected discharge of tension and emotions without concern about consequences
Anxiety	Subjective experience of nervousness, worry, apprehension, or restlessness, ranging from excessive concern about the present or future to feelings of panic
Feelings of guilt	Sense or remorse or self-blame for real or imagined misdeeds in the past