Scale Analysis

The Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS-23) is used to assess the symptoms of catatonia, a psychiatric condition characterized by motor and behavioral abnormalities. This scale, which includes 23 items, allows clinicians to evaluate symptoms such as immobility, mutism, waxy flexibility, stereotypies, and other motor disturbances.

Purpose

The main purpose of the BFCRS is to provide a reliable and valid tool for assessing catatonia, aiding in accurate diagnosis and monitoring of the condition over time. Additionally, the scale is used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, helping clinicians adjust the therapeutic approach based on the patient’s response.

Scoring

The BFCRS scale consists of 23 items, each of which is rated on a scale from 0 to 3: 0: The symptom is absent, 1: The symptom is mildly present, 2: The symptom is moderately present, 3: The symptom is strongly present. The total score is calculated by adding the ratings of all items, with the maximum possible score being 69. Higher scores indicate greater severity of catatonia.

Key References

  1. Bush, G., Fink, M., Petrides, G., Dowling, F., Francis, A. (1996). Catatonia. II. Treatment with lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 93, 137-143.
  2. Santos Nunes, A. L., Filgueiras, A., Nicolato, R., Alvarenga, J. M., Silveira, A. S., Assis da Silva, R., Cheniaux, E. (2017). Development and validation of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale – Brazilian version. Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 75, 44-49.
  3. Sienaert, P., Rooseleer, J., & De Fruyt, J. (2011). Measuring Catatonia: A systematic review of rating scales. Journal of Affective Disorders, 135, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.02.012
  4. Tandon, R., Heckers, S., Bustillo, J., Barch, D.M., Gaebel, W., Gur, R.E., … Carpenter, W. (2013). Catatonia in DSM-5. Schizophrenia Research, 150, 26-30. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.04.034
  5. Wilson, J. E., Niu, K., Nicolson, S. E., Levine, S. Z., & Heckers, S. (2015). The diagnostic criteria and structure of catatonia. Schizophrenia Research, 164, 256-262.
  6. Wong, E., Ungvari, G.S., Leung, S.K., Tang, W.K. (2007). Rating Catatonia in patients with chronic schizophrenia: Rash analysis of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 16, 161-170. doi: 10.1002/mpr.224

The BFCRS-23 scale is an essential tool for assessing catatonia in a clinical setting, enabling accurate monitoring of the condition’s progression and adjustment of treatment according to the patient’s needs.