Latent state-trait structure of BPRS subscales in clinical high-risk state and first episode psychosis

To investigate the longitudinal latent state-trait structure of the different dimensions of psychosis symptoms in clinical high-risk state (CHRS) and first episode psychosis (FEP) individuals over a one year time-span. This paper examines if the symptom clusters Positive Symptoms, Negative Symptoms, Affectivity, Resistance, Activation, and Excitement according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) differ in their trait and state characters in 196 CHRS and 131 FEP individuals. Statistical analysis was performed using latent state-trait analysis. On average, trait differences accounted for 72.2% of Positive Symptoms, 81.1% of Negative Symptoms, 57.0% of Affectivity, and 69.2% of Activation, whereas 15.0% of the variance of Resistance and 13.2% of the variance of Excitement were explained by trait differences. Explorative analyses showed a trait components’ increase of 0.408 in Positive Symptoms from baseline up to the 9th month and an increase of 0.521 in Affectivity from baseline up to the 6th month. Negative Symptoms had the highest trait component levels of all subscales between baseline and 6 months. The finding that an increasing proportion of psychosis symptoms is persisting over time underlines the importance of early intervention programs in individuals with psychotic disorders.