SCALES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF NEUROLEPTIC RESPONSE IN SCHIZOPHRENIC CHILDREN - SPECIFIC MEASURES DERIVED FROM THE CPRS

This article reports the psychometric properties of two scales for rat ing positive and negative schizophrenic signs and symptoms. These Posi tive and Negative Syndrome Scales consist of items selected from the C hildren's Psychiatric Rating Scale (CPRS), which contains items coveri ng a wide range of childhood psychopathology. CPRS rating data were an alyzed for 19 schizophrenic children, 16 mates and 3 females, mean age 8.9 years (range 5.5-11.7), evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-cont rolled crossover study of haloperidol. We describe the item compositio n and coherence of each scale, the Interrater reliabilities of clinici ans using the scales, and the sensitivity of the scales for resolving treatment response. Schizophrenic children showed both positive and ne gative signs and symptoms, and bott; improved with neuroleptic treatme nt.