The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was originally designed as a rating system that provides balanced representation of positive and negative symptom features. Evidence from recent factor-analytic studies suggests that a five-dimensional solution appears to best fit the psychopathological data as assessed with the PANSS. To investigate the dimensional structure, we administered the PANSS to 253 inpatients with schizophrenia. In accordance with former studies, principal components analyses yielded five orthogonal dimensions: hostile excitement; negative, cognitive, and positive syndrome; and depression. When compared with questionnaires measuring subjective nonpsychotic experiences of schizophrenia, paranoid mood, and depression, the correlation pattern verifies the PANSS components. In addition, we investigated a subsample of 70 male patients with a Continuous Performance Test (CPT), a Span of Apprehension Task, and a Modality Shift Effect (MSE) paradigm; the CPT was significantly associated with the cognitive syndrome, and the MSE correlated with the negative syndrome.

A study on the concept and measurement of the basic disorders of schizophrenia is presented. A total of 151 male adult psychiatric inpatients (51 with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcoholism, 50 schizophrenics and 50 alcoholics) were included. The aims of this study were: (1) the replication of the previous finding that the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FBF) contains items that discriminate between schizophrenia and alcoholism; (2) an empirical comparison between FBF and the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS); (3) testing the relationship between basic and negative versus positive symptoms, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Regarding (1), the former result was replicated. Regarding (2), FBF subscales and BSABS categories were shown to be significantly but weakly related, even if identical symptoms were included in the inquiry. Regarding (3), FBF and BSABS were found to be more closely related to negative than to positive PANSS items. Theoretical implications and consequences for further research are discussed.