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A composite scale applied to evaluate anxiety in schizophrenic patients (SAES)

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Abstract

Anxiety in schizophrenia possesses specific features and is difficult to assess because no specific evaluating tool is currently available. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a hetero-assessment-based scale to specifically measure anxiety in schizophrenia. A literature review and a survey among psychiatrists allowed the selection of 29 items from 4 previous scales evaluating anxiety. Factor analysis allowed building up a final 22-item composite scale of anxiety evaluation in schizophrenia (SAES), which was then validated in 147 schizophrenic patients. One hundred and forty-seven (147) schizophrenic patients (70.8 % male, mean age = 36.9 years) were included in the study. Principal component analysis of the SAES revealed three factors, namely “expressed and perceived anxiety,” “somatic anxiety,” and “anxiety and environment”. All total and factor scores of the SAES were significantly correlated (p < .001) with total and factor scores of the original scales. Finally, the SAES showed good inter-rater reliability [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = .82]. In conclusion, a specific tool for evaluating anxiety in schizophrenia (SAES) was developed and validated in a sample of schizophrenic patients. The SAES can be useful to investigate clinical, psychopathological, and therapeutic aspects of anxiety in schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to J.-D. Guelfi (CMME Saint-Anne, Paris, France), P. Boyer (Paris), J.-P. Lépine (Hôpital Fernand Widal, Paris, France), J. Dalery (UCBL1, EA 3092, CH Le Vinatier, Bron, France) and M. Bourgeois (Bordeaux, France) for their participation in the DELPHI expert group. Funding for this study was provided by Sanofi France. Sanofi France had no special role in the study design or in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Dr Hameg (Sanofi France) contributed to the global study idea and helped complete the paper.

Conflict of interest

PM. Llorca has undertaken consultancy for Sanofi and has also received financial support for research studies from Sanofi. O. Blanc, I. de Chazeron, L. Samalin, C. Lancon, H. Caci, F.J. Baylé, and JA Lesturgeon have no conflict of interest in this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CHU of Clermont-Ferrand, Psychiatry Service, Place Henri Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Pierre-Michel Llorca, Olivier Blanc, Ingrid de Chazeron & Ludovic Samalin

  2. CHU Sainte-Marguerite, Psychiatry Service, 13274, Marseille Cedex 09, France

    Christophe Lancon

  3. CHU of Nice, Sector Children-Adolescent, Hospital Archet 2, 06202, Nice Cedex 3, France

    Hervé Caci

  4. CHS Sainte-Marie of Clermont Ferrand, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Jean-Alexandre Lesturgeon

  5. CHU Sainte-Anne, University Paris-Descartes, 75014, Paris, France

    Franck J. Bayle

Authors
  1. Pierre-Michel Llorca
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  2. Christophe Lancon
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  8. Franck J. Bayle
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Correspondence to Olivier Blanc.

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Llorca, PM., Lancon, C., Blanc, O. et al. A composite scale applied to evaluate anxiety in schizophrenic patients (SAES). Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 264, 171–178 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-013-0416-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-013-0416-1

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