bush_francis_catatonia_scale: Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS)

In cliot: Clinical Indices and Outcomes Tools

Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS)

Description

Calculates the total score for the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, the standard instrument for diagnosing and assessing the severity of catatonia. It evaluates 23 items on a scale of 0 to 3. The first 14 items constitute the screening instrument; presence of 2 or more of these items warrants a full evaluation.

Usage

bush_francis_catatonia_scale(excitement, immobility, mutism, staring, posturing,
                             grimacing, echophenomena, stereotypy, mannerisms,
                             verbigeration, rigidity, negativism, waxy_flexibility,
                             withdrawal, impulsivity, automatic_obedience, mitgehen,
                             gegenhalten, ambitendency, grasp_reflex, perseverance,
                             combativeness, autonomic_abnormality)

Arguments

excitement	Numeric (0-3). Extreme hyperactivity, constant motor unrest.
immobility	Numeric (0-3). Stupor, hypoactivity.
mutism	Numeric (0-3). Verbally unresponsive.
staring	Numeric (0-3). Fixed gaze, little or no blinking.
posturing	Numeric (0-3). Catalepsy, maintenance of posture.
grimacing	Numeric (0-3). Maintenance of odd facial expressions.
echophenomena	Numeric (0-3). Echopraxia or Echolalia.
stereotypy	Numeric (0-3). Repetitive, non-goal-directed movements.
mannerisms	Numeric (0-3). Odd, purposeful movements.
verbigeration	Numeric (0-3). Repetition of phrases or sentences.
rigidity	Numeric (0-3). Maintenance of position against resistance.
negativism	Numeric (0-3). Resistance to moving instructions.
waxy_flexibility	Numeric (0-3). Slight resistance to positioning.
withdrawal	Numeric (0-3). Refusal to eat/drink/interact.
impulsivity	Numeric (0-3). Sudden inappropriate behavior.
automatic_obedience	Numeric (0-3). Exaggerated cooperation.
mitgehen	Numeric (0-3). "Going with" body movements.
gegenhalten	Numeric (0-3). Resistance proportional to applied force.
ambitendency	Numeric (0-3). Motor indecision.
grasp_reflex	Numeric (0-3). Forced grasping.
perseverance	Numeric (0-3). Repetitive return to previous topic/movement.
combativeness	Numeric (0-3). Violence directed at others.
autonomic_abnormality	Numeric (0-3). Vital sign abnormalities.

Value

A list containing:

BFCRS_Total_Score	The sum of all 23 items (Range 0-69).
Screening_Result	"Positive Screen" if >=2 of the first 14 items are present (>0).
Screening_Items_Present	Count of positive screening items.

References

Bush G, Fink M, Petrides G, Dowling F, Francis A. Catatonia. I. Rating scale and standardized examination. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1996;93(2):129-36. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09814.x

Examples

# Example 1: Positive Screen, High Severity
# Immobility(3), Mutism(3), Staring(2), Posturing(2), Rigidity(3)
# Others 0
bush_francis_catatonia_scale(0, 3, 3, 2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 0,
                             0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

# Example 2: Negative Screen
# All 0
bush_francis_catatonia_scale(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
                             0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

cliot documentation built on Dec. 1, 2025, 1:06 a.m.