Objectives:This study was performed to evaluate the changes of the positive, negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia during hospitalization. The hypothesis is that early positive, negative symptoms affect on later symptoms during the hospitalization.
Methods:44 inpatients with schizophrenia were rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and 4-6 weeks later.
Results:It was shown that early positive symptoms affected later positive symptoms (rs=0.76, t=0.26), but not later negative symptoms and general psychopathology. Early negative symptoms had an effect on later positive, negative symptoms and general psychopathology (rs=0.24, t=2.57；rs=1.01, t=14.5；rs=0.66, t=3.13) respectively. Early general psychopathology affected only later general psychopathology in hospitalization period (rs=0.58, t=5.01).
Conclusion:Early positive symptoms did not affect on later negative symptoms and general psychopathology, but early negative symptoms affected all symptom profile. Thus it is very important to evaluate and treat thoroughly early negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. (Schizophrenia Clinics 2004;7:96-100) |
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