ROUNDS, a new time-sampling methodology for the quantitative behavioral assessment of schizophrenic withdrawal: Reliability and validity

• Published in: Schizophrenia research 1991-10, Vol.5 (3), p.255-262
• Main Authors: Boronow, John J., Ringel, Norman, Summerfelt, Ann, Parenté, Frederick J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Circadian Rhythm; Deficit; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Negative symptom; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenic Psychology; Social Behavior; Social Environment; Social Isolation; Time sampling; Withdrawal
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0920-9964(91)90084-5

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia have been the subject of much research interest. However, there has been a need for a way to measure withdrawal behavior quantitatively over time. We have developed a behavioral time-sampling methodology performed by nursing staff on a schizophrenia inpatient unit. Called ROUNDS, it gathers reliable and valid quantitative data about specific withdrawal behaviors such as posture, daytime sleep and levels of social interaction and activity. This paper describes the development of the method, its implementation, the statistical analysis of its reliability and validity, and the degree to which the data can be replicated with different sampling frequencies. We contend that this method can be applied to the analysis of a wide variety of questions about the nature and treatment response of schizophrenic withdrawal in an inpatient setting.