Methods: Study subjects had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR) with a duration of ≥2 years and had been clinically stable for ≥6 months but continued to have a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative symptom score of ≥24 plus a score of ≥4 on at least 2 of the 4 core negative PANSS symptoms: blunted affect, passive social withdrawal, lack of spontaneity, and flow of conversa...

New findings from neuroscience, genetics, and experimental psychology have emerged that provide alternative explanations of many negative symptoms. We review the continuing limitations in treatment and discuss possible sources of heterogeneity among negative symptoms. We also anticipate conceptual uncertainties that may arise with forthcoming treatment developments.

We present a case of a 52-year-old male patient suffering from chronic schizophrenia stabilized on risperidone long-acting injection (37,5 mg/2 weeks) and biperiden 4 mg/day. Residual symptoms are affective flattening, alogia, avolition, and asociality. Memantine 10 mg/day was added. After 1.5 months, the patient spontaneously referred to "feel better being in company of my relatives." The foll...

The Tilak Venkoba Rao Oration is for the young scientist and before I deliberate on my subject it is my honoured right to speak for the young psychiatrists in our country. I have observed and experienced that the young psychiatrist is the most unfortunate person during his academic career. He is often discouraged from all quarters, so much so, that he feels that he has to struggle in order to d...

Negative and positive symptoms were determined for 46 drug-free patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) and/or Feighner criteria for schizophrenia. A modified version of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) was completed for each patient based on items from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) and other scales. Positive symptoms were scor...

A selective review of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia is an appropriate article to result from the festschrift honoring William T. Carpenter Jr, as he has made substantial contributions in this area. This review assesses progress in 3 areas in which he has been an important investigator: the distinction between primary vs secondary negative symptoms; the appropriate design for treatment ...

Currently, the most prominent way of subtyping schizophrenic symptoms is the distinction between the “positive” and “negative” syndromes (often supplemented by a third group of “disorganization” symptoms). This article offers a theoretical and phenomenological critique of this distinction, focusing on the subjective experience of the so-called “negative symptoms,” and utilizing the autobiograph...

Negative symptoms account for much of the functional disability associated with schizophrenia and often persist despite pharmacological treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a promising adjunctive psychotherapy for negative symptoms. The treatment is based on a cognitive formulation in which negative symptoms arise and are maintained by dysfunctional beliefs that are a reaction to th...

The concept of negative symptoms has become increasingly important since it was reintroduced into psychiatric thinking several years ago. As the possible significance of negative symptoms has become clarified, the complexity of this concept has also become apparent. In dealing with this complexity, major progress has been made in describing negative symptoms more reliably and in taking steps to...