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Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS)

Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) Test

In about 7 minutes, it helps clarify positive symptoms of schizophrenia by tracking what shows up in speech, perception, and behavior. Clear scoring supports treatment planning and reliable progress tracking over time.

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Questions: 347 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

26,116 views

1,942 completions

1,710 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/5

Thought Disorder (TD)

Assesses the clinician’s overall impression of the severity of formal thought disturbances.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate level of thought disorder severity based on observed and reported speech and thinking patterns.

example score

0/2

Bizarre Behavior (BB)

Assesses the clinician’s overall impression of the severity and significance of unusual behavioral disturbances observed during the evaluation.

None

Present

0: None | 1 – 2: Present

A score of 0 indicates no unusual behavioral disturbances were observed as clinically significant during the assessment.

example score

0/0

Delusions (D)

Assesses the overall presence and impact of delusional (nonsensical) ideas on the patient’s condition and behavior.

Absent

Present

0: Absent | 0: Present

A score of 0 indicates no observable delusional content or impact was noted on this scale at the time of assessment.

example score

0/0

Hallucinations (H)

This scale rates the clinician’s overall impression of the severity and clinical significance of hallucination-related symptoms based on interview and observation.

None

Not applicable

0: None | 0: Not applicable

A score of 0 indicates no hallucinatory symptoms were observed or reported as clinically significant during the assessment.

example score

13/20

Total Summary Score (TSS)

This scale reflects the clinician’s overall judgment of the severity of positive symptoms based on observed and reported manifestations.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 13 falls in the Moderate range, indicating a clinician-rated moderate overall severity of positive symptoms.

example score

92/150

Subtotal Score (SS)

This scale sums SAPS intermediate ratings to quantify the overall severity of observed positive symptoms.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 50: Low | 51 – 100: Moderate | 101 – 150: High

A total score of 92 falls in the Moderate range, indicating a moderately elevated overall severity of positive symptoms on the summed SAPS ratings.

example score

19/40

Thought Disorder (TD)

Assesses the severity of positive thought disorder symptoms reflected in disorganized speech and disturbed associations.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 13: Low | 14 – 26: Moderate | 27 – 40: High

A score of 19 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable but not extreme disturbances in speech coherence and associative processes during assessment.

example score

7/20

Bizarre Behavior (BB)

Assesses the severity of strange, extravagant, or absurd behaviors not attributable to psychoactive substance use.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 7 falls in the Moderate range, indicating noticeable but not severe unusual behavior that may affect functioning or interaction.

example score

12/60

Delusions (D)

Assesses the severity and functional impact of delusional (nonsensical) beliefs on thinking and behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 19: Low | 20 – 39: Moderate | 40 – 60: High

A score of 12 falls in the Low range, suggesting delusional symptoms are present to a limited degree with relatively minor impact on thinking and behavior.

example score

10/30

Hallucinations (H)

Measures the severity of hallucinatory experiences across different sensory modalities based on interview and observation.

None/Minimal

Moderate

Marked/Severe

0 – 9: None/Minimal | 10 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 30: Marked/Severe

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable hallucinatory symptoms that are present but not at the most intense end of the scale.

example score

121/170

Total Score (TS)

The SAPS Total score summarizes the overall severity of observed positive symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech/behavior, and unusual motor behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 56: Low | 57 – 113: Moderate | 114 – 170: High

A total score of 121 falls in the High range, indicating a high overall severity of positive symptom manifestations on this assessment.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Psychiatrists and residents

46%OF USERS

Use it in clinical interviews to rate hallucinations, delusions, and disorganization and track changes over time.

Inpatient unit clinicians

34%OF USERS

Apply it on wards to document observable positive symptoms and support treatment planning and handoffs.

Clinical psychologists in psychosis care

20%OF USERS

Use it as a structured way to quantify positive symptoms during assessment and monitor response to therapy.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Thinking disorders (Td)

Average

1.4

Normal range

0.7 — 2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Unusual behavior (Ub)

Average

1.2

Normal range

0.9 — 1.4

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Nonsense (N)

Average

Normal range

0 — 0

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hallucinations (H)

Average

Normal range

0 — 0

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Total of the generalized scores (Totgs)

Average

9.7

Normal range

6.4 — 13

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Sum of intermediate scores (Sois)

Average

41.7

Normal range

21.5 — 61.9

min.

max.

150

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Thought Disorders (TD)

Average

24.2

Normal range

18.1 — 30.4

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Unusual behavior (Ub)

Average

14.9

Normal range

12 — 17.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Nonsense (N)

Average

28.6

Normal range

20.2 — 36.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hallucinations (H)

Average

Normal range

11.1 — 18.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Total score (Ts)

Average

96.9

Normal range

67.5 — 126.2

min.

max.

170

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this scale measure?

It rates the presence and severity of positive psychotic symptoms. Domains include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behavior, and unusual motor behavior.

Who should administer and score the scale?

It is intended for trained mental health clinicians. Scoring is based on a structured interview and direct behavioral observation.

How long does administration take and how many items are included?

Typical administration takes about 7 minutes. The scale includes 34 items.

What information is used to rate each item?

Ratings use the person’s reported experiences and the clinician’s observations during the interview. Observable signs are used when self-report is limited or unclear.

How are results typically used?

Scores support clinical description of symptom severity and change over time. They can help guide treatment planning and monitor response.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Scale for Assessing Positive Symptoms, SAPS Test

Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

psychopathology schizophrenia

This clinician-rated instrument is used to quantify the severity of positive psychotic symptoms through interview and behavioral observation. The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) provides a structured approach to documenting symptom presence and intensity in domains commonly associated with psychosis.

The measure includes 34 items and typically requires about 7 minutes to administer and score, depending on clinical complexity and the amount of collateral information available. It is commonly used in clinical and research settings to support baseline characterization and longitudinal monitoring of symptom change; the original measure was developed by Nancy C. Andreasen.

The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) is intended to complement broader diagnostic and clinical evaluation rather than function as a stand-alone diagnostic tool, and interpretation should be integrated with the full clinical picture, including mental status findings and relevant history.

Author: Nancy C. Andreasen

Literature: Andreasen, N. C. Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS). University of Iowa. 1984.; Kay, S. R., Fiszbein, A., & Opler, L. A. The positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 1987.

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