A new instrument was developed with the intention of harmonizing the CAARMS and the SIPS, termed the Positive SYmptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the CAARMS Harmonized with the SIPS (PSYCHS). It produces fully harmonized positive symptom ratings, enables scoring of all CAARMS and SIPS positive symptom items from a single interview, harmonizes psychosis criteria, and yields partially harmonized CHR/UHR diagnostic criteria across both instruments.14

Abbreviations CAARMS=comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental states; CHR=clinical high risk; SIPS=structured interview for prodromal syndromes; UHR=ultra-high risk

References:

1.Nordgaard J, Revsbech R, Sæbye D, Parnas J. Assessing the diagnostic validity of a structured psychiatric interview in a first-admission hospital sample. World Psychiatry 2012; 11: 181–185.

2.Nordgaard J, Sass LA, Parnas J. The psychiatric interview: validity, structure, and subjectivity. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2013; 263: 353–364.

3.Parnas J, Parnas AU. Refining the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia: an infinite task. Schizophr Bull 2024; 50: 12–13.

4.Nordgaard J, Henriksen MG, Jansson L et al. Disordered selfhood in schizophrenia and the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience: accumulated evidence and experience. Psychopathology 2021; 54: 275–281.

5.Brissos S, Molodynski A, Dias VV, Figueira ML. The importance of measuring psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2011; 10: 18.

6.Howie JH, Fielden CR, Rempfer MV. Cognition in schizophrenia across phases of illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2026; 355: 116856.

7.Pîrlog MC, Alexandru DO, Popescu RE et al. Quality of life – a goal for schizophrenia’s therapy. Curr Health Sci J. 2018; 44: 122–128.

8.Osório FL, Loureiro SR, Hallak JEC et al. Clinical validity and intrarater and test-retest reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 – Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV). Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73: 754–760.

9.Geck S, Roithmeier M, Bühner M et al. COSMIN systematic review and meta-analysis of the measurement properties of the PANSS-6. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2025; 94: 41–50.

10.Kumari S, Malik M, Florival C et al. An assessment of five (PANSS, SAPS, SANS, NSA-16, CGI-SCH) commonly used symptoms rating scales in schizophrenia and comparison to newer scales (CAINS, BNSS). J Addict Res Ther 2017; 8: 324.

11.Østergaard SD, Lemming OM, Mors O et al. PANSS-6: a brief rating scale for the measurement of severity in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2016; 133: 436–444.

12.Fusar-Poli P, Borgwardt S, Bechdolf A et al. The psychosis high-risk state: a comprehensive state-of-the-art review. JAMA Psychiatry 2013; 70: 107–120.

13.Parnas J, Møller P, Kircher T et al. EASE: Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience. Psychopathology 2005; 38 (5): 236–258.

14.Woods et al. Development of the PSYCHS: Positive SYmptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the CAARMS Harmonized with the SIPS. Early Interv Psychiatry 2024; 18: 255–272.