Use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale to Predict Outcome in a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program

 
    Researchers: Longo, D.A., Ph.D. and Newsome, B., M.S.  
       
       
    Description:  
       
    This exploratory study is currently investigating BPRS scale scores at time of admission of consumers to an inpatient psychosocial rehabilitation program in Williamsburg, Virginia. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between scale scores to diagnosis and to explore their predictive value in length of stay in the hospital by comparing scores at the time of admission to discharge scores.  
       
    The utility of this type of research is that it may enable mental health professionals to identify which factors contribute to a longer length of stay in a hospital setting and that may need to be a focus of treatment. The overall goal then is to target those psychiatric symptoms that most contribute to the hospitalization in order to return the consumers to the community as quickly as possible.  
       
       
    Additional Information:  
       
    The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) is an 18-item measure developed to monitor clients' psychiatric symptoms and to evaluate response to treatment over time. The BPRS is particularly efficient in evaluating treatment change in psychiatric patients. The scale is typically administered to a client in an interview fashion most often requiring 25-30 minutes to complete. Reliability of the BPRS has been reported for interrupter item reliability r+.62-.87 and overall interrupter reliability of r=.85. In general, since the BPRS is concerned with measuring therapeutic change, test-retest reliablity has not been typically a concern.