Clinical global impression
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The clinical global impression (CGI) rating scales are measures of symptom severity, treatment response and the efficacy of treatments in treatment studies of patients with
Validity of CGI scales
Despite its wider acceptance and consistent use in clinical trials, psychometric properties of CGI have not been established. However, the scale is found to be valid as an external criterion during the development of scales of depression and anxiety. In many studies, the clinicians' ratings of psychiatric symptoms were found to correlate significantly with self-rated and other valid scales of symptom severity. For example, Leon et al. (1993)[4] showed that severity ratings but not improvement ratings were predicted highly and significantly by frequency of panic attacks, depression and anxiety ratings made on already valid rating scales. Similarly, another study[5] showed that MADRS, HAM-D and CGI scales had comparable effect sizes and could be equally used in studies to assess severity and improvement of symptoms. Even though many studies have established the validity of CGI scales in relation to other commonly used robust rating scales, its efficacy in predicting treatment outcomes is highly debated. Its sensitivity is good enough to differentiate between responders and non-responders in clinical trials of depression,[6] but its specificity is not satisfactory. It has poor interrater reliability than HAM-D.[7] Many weaknesses could explain this possible lack of validity of the CGI: there is no specific interviewer guide available, and while most other symptoms scales have fairly clear and specific response options, the response format used in the CGI to assess change or severity of illness is more likely to be ambiguous (what is the definition of a patient who is "Severely ill"?).[8]
Severity scale
The clinical global impression – severity scale (CGI-S) is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to rate the severity of the patient's illness at the time of assessment, relative to the clinician's past experience with patients who have the same diagnosis. Clinicians ask: "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how ill is the patient at this time?" Possible ratings are:[1]
- Normal, not at all ill
- Borderline mentally ill
- Mildly ill
- Moderately ill
- Markedly ill
- Severely ill
- Among the most extremely ill patients
Improvement scale
The clinical global impression – improvement scale (CGI-I) is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to assess how much the patient's illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of the intervention. Clinicians ask: "Compared to the patient's condition at baseline, this patient's [average] condition has...?" and rated as:[1]
- Very much improved
- Much improved
- Minimally improved
- No change
- Minimally worse
- Much worse
- Very much worse
Efficacy index
The clinical global impression – efficacy Index is a 4×4 rating scale that assesses the therapeutic effect of treatment with psychiatric medication and associated side effects.[1]
| Therapeutic effect | Side effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Do not significantly interfere with patient's functioning | Significantly interfere with patient's functioning | Outweigh therapeutic effect | |
| Marked – Vast improvement. Complete or nearly complete remission of all symptoms | ||||
| Moderate – Decided improvement. Partial remission of symptoms | ||||
| Minimal – Slight improvement which doesn't alter status of care of patient | ||||
| Unchanged or worse | ||||
See also
- Diagnostic classification and rating scales used in psychiatry
- Outcomes research
References
- ^ OCLC 2344751. DHEW Publ No ADM 76–338 – via Internet Archive.
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- ^ Guelfi JD: Clinical research in psychopharmacology: new standards for drug development. An application to antidepressants. Psychiatrie et Psychobiologie. 1990, 5: 289-294
- ^ Cicchetti DV, Prusoff BA: Reliability of depression and associated clinical symptoms. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1983, 40: 987-990
- PMID 17284321.
- Guy, W. (2000). "Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Scale, Modified". In Rush, John A.; Task Force for the Handbook of Psychiatric Measures (eds.). Handbook of Psychiatric Measures (1st ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. OCLC 43483679.
This article incorporates public domain material from William Guy. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology—Revised, 1976. National Institute of Mental Health.