Guide to Assessment Scales in Schizophrenia

From our regular book review column.

The rating scales that are currently in use for various psychiatric symptoms have been developed primarily for clinical investigations to accomplish thorough and consistent evaluation of clinical syndromes that are under investigation. This book describes the usefulness of various rating scales in routine clinical practice to monitor changes of clinical conditions over time, in a systematic way, to help clinical management. Specifically, this book covers assessments of psychopathology as well as assessments of other essential clinical features, such as suicidality, violence, substance abuse, side effects of antipsychotic drugs, and functional outcome, in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.