Medication adverse effects and movement disorders
Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS)
Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) — administration and scoring reference.
Reference information · Official-form reference
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Official-form reference
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | BARS; observation, subjective experience and global judgment |
| Respondent | Clinician |
| Purpose | Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) — administration and scoring reference. |
Administration
Observe the person sitting and standing, then elicit subjective restlessness and distress using the original protocol.
Scoring method
Objective, subjective awareness/distress and global clinical rating; report components per manual.
Interpretation & limitations
- Retain the objective, subjective and global findings so the clinical picture is visible.
- Interpret the findings alongside the clinical interview, functioning, history and relevant physical assessment.
- Do not infer the global assessment from a sum alone. Restlessness has several possible causes, and absent subjective reporting may need careful assessment.
- Use the original instrument and manual for item wording, rating anchors, missing-data rules and any normative conversions. This reference does not establish a diagnosis or select treatment.