[A critical study of the influence of negative symptoms on the therapeutic response in schizophrenia].

Abstract

Introduction: The schizophrenia is considered an heterogeneous disorder which phenomenological differences could to point to etiopathogenic differences. Negative symptoms are associated with poor treatment response. In the last year different operative criteria of the "refractory treatment" concept has been developed. The association between negative schizophrenic symptoms and neuroleptic treatment response is studied.

Method: An open cross-sectioned design is made. 50 schizophrenics (DSM III-R criteria) inpatients are divided into 2 groups: one of 25 treatment-refractory schizophrenics (defined as Kane criteria, modified), and a second group of 25 treatments-responders schizophrenics. Negative symptoms are evaluated by the SANS into the five days before the hospital discharge.

Results: The two groups showed differences in the number of hospital income and total length of stay (p < 0.01). There were no differences in the subscales: "alogia", "affective flattening" and "attention impairments", although differences were found in "anhedonia-asociality" and "avolition-apathy" subscales (p < 0.05).

Discussion: Association between negative symptoms-poor outcome is issued. Possible relation between "anhedonia-asociality" and "avolition-apathy" added to social dimension with refractoriness to treatment is suggested.