Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The study examined the primary versus secondary character of negative symptoms in a group of first-episode, neuroleptic-naive psychotic patients before and after they started neuroleptic treatment. METHOD: RESULTS: Although patients' mean scores on measures of positive, negative, and depressive symptoms decreased significantly over the treatment period, the mean rating of nonakinetic parkinsonism worsened. The mean rating of akinetic parkinsonism did not change significantly over the treatment period. Negative symptoms at admission were not predicted by positive or depressive symptoms at admission. Residual negative symptoms at discharge were mainly predicted by negative symptoms at admission (i.e., primary symptoms) and to a negligible degree by residual positive and depressive symptoms. Change in negative symptoms over the observation period was predicted to a marginal degree by change in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Negative symptoms rated during a first psychotic episode before and after starting antipsychotic treatment are mainly primary in character and should be considered as a direct manifestation of the basic dysfunctions of schizophrenia.
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Authors | V Peralta, M J Cuesta, A Martinez-Larrea, J F Serrano |
Journal | The American journal of psychiatry
(Am J Psychiatry)
Vol. 157
Issue 9
Pg. 1461-6
(Sep 2000)
ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States |
PMID | 10964863
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antipsychotic Agents
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Comorbidity
- Depressive Disorder
(diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Hospitalization
- Humans
- Male
- Parkinson Disease
(diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Parkinson Disease, Secondary
(chemically induced, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Probability
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
(statistics & numerical data)
- Regression Analysis
- Schizophrenia
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
- Schizophrenic Psychology
- Severity of Illness Index
- Spain
(epidemiology)
- Treatment Outcome
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