Suicidality data was collected from the CDSS. The CDSS has been
specifically developed to assess the level of depressive symptoms
in schizophrenia. Depression rating scales frequently used in mood
disorders may not sufficiently distinguish depressive symptoms
from positive and negative symptoms and extra-pyramidal sideeffects
in psychosis [33,48]. The CDSS consists of 9 items, each
giving a score of 0–3 points, the applicable period being the least
2 weeks. Item 8, Suicide, contains information on both suicidal
ideation, suicidal plans and attempted suicide and is divided into
the following categories according to scores 0–3: 0: ‘‘Symptom is
absent’’; 1: Mild: ‘‘Frequent thoughts of being better off dead, or
occasional thoughts of suicide’’; 2: Moderate: ‘‘Deliberately
considered suicide with a plan, but made no attempt’’; and 3:
Severe: ‘‘Suicidal attempt apparently designed to end in death’’. A
score of 1 will from here on be referred to and analysed as suicidal
ideation, a score of 2: suicide plans and 3: suicide attempt. This
method of analysing suicide-data from the CDSS was applied in a
similar manner in the CATIE-trial [56]. The PANSS Excitement
Component (PANSS-EC) consists of the PANSS items P4 Hyperactivity,
P7 Hostility, G4 Tension, G8 Uncooperativeness and G14
Poor Impulse Control. The PANSS-EC has been validated as an
assessment of agitation and aggression [31,38]. The sum score of
the Negative Symptom Scale of the PANSS reflected negative
symptoms.