Use of the brief psychiatric rating scale by nurses.

1. Nurses are intimately involved in the assessment of patients in inpatient clinical settings and in community settings--and nurses have a role to play in the systematic rating of severe psychopathology. 2. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) provides a means of assessing mental health status from an interview using 16 rating concepts. Analysis of BPRS rating profiles obtained from a variety of patients and settings have consistently revealed four syndromes: withdrawal-retardation, anxious depression, hostile-suspiciousness, and thinking disturbance. 3. Once properly trained regarding the BPRS, nurses can use the scale effectively in the assessment and ongoing monitoring of patient conditions. The scale is an added tool for nurses to use in monitoring the effectiveness and outcome of both medical and nursing interventions.