- Presence of a certain severity of illness as assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS; 24-item version) with a) BPRS total score > 40 points and b) fulfillment of one of the following sub syndromes: ≥ 6 points on item 10 (hallucinations), ≥ 6 points on item 11 (unusual thought content), ≥ 6 points on item 15 (conceptual disorganization), ≥ 10 points on items 3 plus 4 (depressive-suicidal syndrome), ≥ 6 points on item 4 (suicidality), ≥ 15 points on items 8, 9 plus 21 (manic syndrome), ≥ 15 points on items 6, 12 plus 20 (disruptive behavior syndrome) and ≥ 15 points on items 13, 16 plus 17 (negative syndrome);