A new rating scale for negative symptoms: the Motor-Affective-Social Scale

The commonly used rating scales for negative symptoms in schizophrenia have shown good reliability, but disagreement persists regarding both the content definition and the validity of several items. Instead, authors have recommended rating the specific behaviors that are defined as negative symptoms. To surmount these shortcomings, we developed a new rating scale for negative symptoms: the Motor-Affective-Social Scale (MASS). During a 5-minute structured interview, hand coverbal gestures, spontaneous smiles, voluntary smiling, and questions asked by the interviewer were counted and rated on 101 inpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Information on social behavior was obtained from nursing staff. The scale consisted of a total of eight items. The MASS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.81), inter-rater reliability, and test–retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.81). Convergent validity analyses showed high correlations between MASS scores and scores on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptom (SANS), and the negative symptoms subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The MASS showed excellent psychometric properties, practicality, and subject tolerability. Future research that includes the use of the MASS with other patient populations and that investigates the scale's sensitivity during clinical trials should be performed.     

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adolescent schizophrenia patients

OBJECTIVE: The co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adult patients with schizophrenia has been increasingly recognized. However, the rate of OCD comorbidity in adolescent schizophrenia patients has yet to be systematically evaluated. METHOD: The rate of DSM-IV OCD was evaluated in 50 adolescent inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The severity of schizophrenia and OCD symptoms was assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. RESULTS: Thirteen schizophrenia patients (26.0%) also met the DSM-IV criteria for OCD. This subgroup scored significantly higher on the SANS subscale for affective flattening or blunting. The total SANS score positively correlated with the total Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of adolescent schizophrenia inpatients have concomitant OCD. A prospective study is needed to evaluate the clinical course, response to treatment, and prognosis for this complex disorder.     

Prevalence of item level negative symptoms in first episode psychosis diagnoses

The relevance of negative symptoms across the diagnostic spectrum of the psychoses remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to report on prevalence of item and subscale level negative symptoms across the first episode psychosis (FEP) diagnostic spectrum in an epidemiological sample, and to ascertain whether items and subscales were more prevalent in a schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses group compared to an 'all other psychotic diagnoses' group. We measured negative symptoms in 330 patients presenting with FEP using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and ascertained diagnosis using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV. Prevalence of SANS items and subscales were tabulated across all psychotic diagnoses, and logistic regression analysis determined which items and subscales were predictive of schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses. SANS items were most prevalent in schizophrenia spectrum conditions but frequently presented in other FEP diagnoses, particularly substance induced psychotic disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Brief psychotic disorder and bipolar disorders had low levels of negative symptoms. SANS items and subscales which significantly predicted schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses, were also frequently present in some of the other psychotic diagnoses. Conclusions: SANS items have high prevalence in FEP, and while commonest in schizophrenia spectrum conditions are not restricted to this diagnostic subgroup.     

Association between feasibility of discharge, clinical state, and patient attitude among inpatients with schizophrenia in Japan

Aim:  There have been some studies on the feasibility of discharging mentally ill inpatients from mental hospitals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how a psychiatrist judges whether an inpatient can be discharged.
Methods:  A survey regarding such judgments on discharge was conducted involving 549 inpatients with schizophrenia with a hospital stay of ≥1 year. Relationships between psychiatrist judgments on discharge and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Global Assessment Scale (GAS), patient attitude to discharge, and other variables were investigated. A similar analysis was conducted regarding patient attitudes toward discharge.
Results:  After controlling for potential confounding factors using multiple logistic regression, the judgments showed significant relationships with BPRS-P, SANS, GAS, and age. Patient attitudes showed significant relationships with the length of the current hospital stay, SANS, and psychiatrists' judgments.
Conclusion:  A psychiatrist's judgment regarding discharge is a comprehensive decision that takes into account psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and age. Such a judgment could also affect a patient's own attitude toward discharge.     

Negative Symptome schizophrener Patienten aus der Perspektive der Psychiater,der Patienten selbst und deren Angehörigen

Clinical experience shows that negative symptoms are affected by environmental factors. Thus, different assessors with different information about patient behavior in different environments may come to different findings of negative symptoms. In this regard, the present study evaluates to what extent the assessment of negative symptoms by schizophrenic inpatients and their relatives compares to interview-based assessments by experts. Therefore, 33 schizophrenic patients were rated by patients themselves, their relatives, and psychiatrists. Negative symptoms were assessed with comparable assessment scales using the modified version of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) for patients or relatives and the original SANS for psychiatrists. Analyses revealed that the total SANS summary scores as rated by patients and relatives were comparable to scores rated by psychiatrists. Scores on SANS subscales of "alogia" and "attention deficits" differed significantly among the three ratings, while psychiatrists rated the patients' impairments as lower than did the patients themselves or their relatives. These findings indicate that patients' and relatives' ratings could be used to reduce information variance and improve the validity of interview-based, assessed negative symptoms.     

文拉法辛联合氯氮平治疗精神分裂症阴性症状的疗效

目的 观察文拉法辛缓释片合并氯氮平治疗精神分裂症阴性症状的疗效和不良反应.方法 采用单纯随机化法,将107例精神分裂症患者分为研究组（文拉法辛缓释片＋氯氮平）和对照组（氯氮平＋安慰剂）.于治疗前、治疗第2、4、8周末以阳性和阴性症状量表（PANSS）和阴性症状量表（SANS）评定疗效,于治疗第2、4、8周末以药物副反应量表（TESS）评定不良反应.结果 治疗4、8周末,研究组PANSS总分和阴性因子分与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;研究组SANS总分和部分因子分与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.治疗后第2、4、8周末,研究组TESS评分均明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.结论 文拉法辛缓释片治疗精神分裂症安全有效,协同氯氮平治疗精神分裂症阴性症状可增加疗效.     

Subsyndromes of chronic schizophrenia: a phenomenological study

Statistical grouping of clinical symptoms and signs is one method of classifying schizophrenia. This study attempted to find factors of symptoms generated through clinical ratings on three scales, namely the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) in a sample of 80 stable chronic schizophrenics diagnosed by DSM-III-R. It was found that the positive-negative dichotomy could not be replicated. Inappropriate affect was found to be a clear misfit in the cluster of negative symptoms. Inclusion of CPRS led to the generation of a factor loading high on depressive and asthenic items, and this could be clearly distinguished from the factor of negative symptoms. This factor had not hitherto been identified.     

Depressive and negative symptoms in major psychiatric disorders

Among 193 inpatients with Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) major psychiatric disorders, the scores in Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) were higher among those patients with RDC schizoaffective disorder depressed type and major depressive disorder, whereas the scores in the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were higher among patients with these two disorders, as well as those with RDC nonaffective psychoses (schizophrenia and unspecified functional psychosis). The HRSD and SANS items were factor-analyzed, yielding nine factors that discriminated depressive and negative symptoms. These findings suggest that although depressive and negative symptoms frequently coexist, they constitute discrete syndromes.     

The factor structure for positive and negative symptoms in South African Xhosa patients with schizophrenia

Most studies investigating the symptom dimensions of schizophrenia utilising the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) favour a three factor model. This study sought to investigate the factor structure of both the global and individual items of the SANS and SAPS in a large sample of South African Xhosa patients with schizophrenia. A total of 422 subjects participated. Both principal components and factor analytical procedures were applied. For the global items, a two-factor solution representing positive and negative symptoms accounted for 59.9% of the variance. Alternatively, the three-dimensional model of negative, psychotic and disorganisation factors was supported by a five-factor solution if the more heterogeneous items of attention and alogia were ignored. Analysis of the individual items yielded a five-factor solution with the negative symptoms splitting into diminished expression and disordered relating, and the positive symptoms separating into factors for psychosis, thought disorder and bizarre behaviour. Our findings are very similar to those from other parts of the world, providing evidence that the factor structure for the symptoms of schizophrenia is relatively resistant to cultural influences. This is particularly true for negative symptoms.     

The Positive and Negative Symptoms Questionnaire: a self-report scale in schizophrenia

The assessment of various symptoms in schizophrenia has received much interest, although few studies have compared evaluations by clinicians to those of their patients. Self-report tools may improve service delivery, data collection, and possibly also treatment adherence. We constructed the Positive and Negative Symptoms Questionnaire (PNS-Q), a self-report measure, after items from the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The PNS-Q contained 68 items and was administered to 61 schizophrenic inpatients. We examined its psychometric properties and utility as a self-report tool in schizophrenia. The PNS-Q exhibited high internal consistency for both its positive and negative subscales. External validity with the SAPS and SANS was low. The positive symptoms subscale correlated significantly with the SAPS ( r = .341, P < .01), whereas the negative symptoms subscale did not correlate at all with the SANS ( r = -0.086, P > .1). The correlation between patients' insight and scores of the PNS-Q was mixed. A partial correlation analysis failed to confirm a relationship between the rating of the patients' level of insight (measured by the Amador Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorders [SUMD]) and the disparity between the PNS-Q and the SAPS and SANS. However, the PNS-Q correlated highly with McEvoy's Vignettes, a measure of self-perception of symptoms. The results of this study are discussed in light of current research and methodologic issues. The PNS-Q reflects schizophrenics' self-perception, an important, yet neglected, aspect of schizophrenia. Using this new measure, we believe that clinicians and researchers will be able to gain insight to the inner world of these patients and improve their condition, as well as enhance patients' involvement in treatment planning.     

改良森田疗法对慢性精神分裂症的远期疗效

目的：探讨改良森田疗法对慢性精神分裂症的远期疗效。方法：将89例住院慢性精神分裂症患者随机分为森田组和对照组,分别给予10周的改良森田治疗和一般治疗,治疗结束后作1年的随访;治疗前、后及随访结束时用阴性症状量表（SANS）、社会功能缺陷筛选量表（SDSS）和自知力量表（ITAQ）进行相关评定。结果：治疗前两组间均分差异均无显著性（P〉0.05）,治疗后森田组SANS、ITAQ评分及情感平淡、兴趣或社交缺乏、注意缺乏分与对照组差异有显著性（P〈0.05）;随访结束时两组间情感平淡、兴趣或社交缺乏差异有显著性（P〈0.05）,ITAQ、SANS、SDSS评分及注意缺乏分则差异有显著性（P〈0.01）,森田组的复发率和再住院率显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论：改良森田疗法能减轻慢性精神分裂症患者的精神症状、恢复自知力和社会功能、降低复发率,对慢性精神分裂症患者的长期康复具有积极意义,其远期疗效值得肯定。     

Anhedonia and substance-related symptoms in detoxified substance-dependent subjects: a correlation study

Anhedonia is a condition in which the capacity of experiencing pleasure is totally or partially lost, frequently occurring in mood disorders, as a negative symptom in schizophrenia, and in substance use disorders. In order to test a set of instruments for anhedonia in a population of detoxified opiate, alcohol and multiple substance-dependent subjects, 70 individuals were recruited from three different clinical settings. The following scales were applied: Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), specific withdrawal scales, and visual analogue scales (VAS) for hedonic capability and substance craving. The scales measuring anhedonia either directly (SHAPS, VAS for hedonic capability) or in some key items (SANS, BRMS) were significantly correlated with each other. The period of time since detoxification was inversely correlated with anhedonia and withdrawal symptomatology. Craving was positively correlated with anhedonia. Out of the total sample, only 18.5% could be defined as psychometrically anhedonic. The same correlations were found in this subsample. The composite instrument employed for assessing anhedonia and hedonic capability was found to be sensitive enough to detect such a dimension in the population considered, with the single scales significantly interrelated. In conclusion, we found interrelations between hedonic capability, craving and protracted withdrawal, particularly in opiate-dependent subjects. The strongest association occurred between hedonic capability and craving.     

Negative schizophrenic symptoms and their detection

The paper deals with the methodology and methods for the assessment of negative (or minus) symptoms of schizophrenia. Two approaches are distinguished: Rating scales and objective methods. Statistical analysis of symptom-ratings with comprehensive psychiatric assessment systems (eg Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Present State Examination) have supported the distinction between positive and negative symptoms. Therefore special scales have been constructed for the purpose of differentially assessing these symptoms, eg the Scale for the Assessment of Negative/Positive Symptoms (SANS, SAPS) or the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Relations to self-rating scales for subjectively experienced deficits and basic symptoms in schizophrenic patients are pointed out, eg Frankfurt Complaint Inventory (FBFB) or Scale for Emotional Blunting (SEB). Psychometric properties of the rating scales for negative symptoms have to be improved, especially their validity often is not shown. Objective--rater-independent--assessment methods for negative symptoms are rare and being experimentally developed. Some symptoms may be assessed by psychological tests as deficiencies in psychological functioning, other by laboratory based (automated) analysis of behaviour, eg speech or facial actions. These investigations increase the reliability of the symptom-assessments. The validation of the methods involves etiological, prognostic and treatment implications of the negative symptoms. Current results suggest, that the negative syndrome of schizophrenia is a heterogenous construct, which has further to be differentiated.     

齐拉西酮合并艾司西酞普兰治疗以阴性症状为主的精神分裂症对照研究

目的 探讨齐拉西酮合并艾司西酞普兰治疗以阴性症状为主的精神分裂症的疗效和安全性。方法 将86例以阴性症状为主的精神分裂症患者随机分为研究组（齐拉西酮合并艾司西酞普兰治疗）和对照组（单用齐拉西酮治疗）,各43例。于治疗前及治疗后第2、4、8、12周末采用阳性和阴性综合征量表（PANSS）和阴性症状量表（SANS）评定两组的疗效,治疗中需处理的不良反应症状量表（TESS）评定两组的不良反应。结果 治疗后第2周末起研究组PANSS总分及阴性症状因子分较治疗前下降（P〈0.05）,研究组治疗后第2周末起PANSS总分及阴性症状因子分低于对照组（P〈0.05）。治疗后第4周末研究组SANS总分、情感平淡、注意障碍因子分低于对照组（P〈0.05）。两组不良反应发生率比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论 齐拉西酮合并艾司西酞普兰治疗以阴性症状为主的精神分裂症起效快、疗效好,且未增加不良反应。     

Individuals with psychometric schizotypy show similar social but not physical anhedonia to patients with schizophrenia

Very few studies have examined physical and social anhedonia across the spectrum of schizophrenia. In the present study, we recruited three groups of participants (n=84 in each group): patients with schizophrenia, schizotypy and non-schizotypy as assessed by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). All participants completed the self-reported trait anhedonia scales (the Revised Physical Anhedonia Scale and the Social Anhedonia Scale). The clinical symptoms of schizophrenia patients were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). We found that the three groups differed in both physical and social anhedonia. The schizotypy group reported higher levels of physical anhedonia than the non-schizotypy group, and the patient group reported higher levels of physical anhedonia than the schizotypy group. For social anhedonia, the non-schizotypy group differed significantly from both the schizotypy and the patient group, while no significant difference was found between the last two groups. Our findings show that individuals with schizotypy exhibits similar social but not physical anhedonia compared with patients with schizophrenia, which further suggests that decreased pleasure experiences in the social environment may be a valuable target for identification and early intervention in high-risk populations.     

Prevalence of depression and its relationship with other clinical characteristics in a sample of patients with stable schizophrenia

AimTo evaluate the prevalence of depression using the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) in a sample of Spanish patients with stable schizophrenia and without a diagnosis of depression.MethodsWe included stable outpatients of 18 to 50 years of age, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder who had not been diagnosed with depression. In this cross-sectional study, we administered the CDSS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), the Simpson Angus Scale (SAS), and the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS).ResultsA total of 95 patients were recruited, 90 of them were included in the statistical analysis. Twenty-eight patients had a total score of 5 or more points on the CDSS, making the prevalence of depression 31% (95% confidence interval, 22-41). The CDSS had a high correlation with the depressive factor of the PANSS and a moderate correlation with the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. The correlation of the CDSS total score with negative symptoms was moderate using the SANS and low with the PANSS-negative. There was no correlation between depressive symptoms and positive symptoms, insight, and extrapyramidal symptoms; and the correlation with akathisia was low.ConclusionOur results suggest that patients with stable schizophrenia who have not been diagnosed with depression frequently have clinically relevant symptoms of depression, and that these symptoms, with the possible exception of a contribution from negative symptoms, are not secondary to other symptoms of their disorder or to extrapyramidal adverse effects of medications.     

Bridge centrality network structure of negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia

Negative symptoms are complex psychopathology. Although evidence generally supported the NIMH five consensus domains, research seldom examined measurement invariance of this model, and domain-specific correspondence across multiple scales. This study aimed to examine the interrelationship between negative symptom domains captured by different rating scales, and to examine the domain-specific correspondence across multiple scales. We administered the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS), the Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS), and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) to 204 individuals with schizophrenia. We used network analysis to examine the interrelationship between negative symptom domains. Besides regularized partial correlation network, we estimated bridge centrality indices to investigate domain-specific correspondence, while taking each scale as an independent community. The regularized partial correlation network showed that the SNS nodes clustered together, whereas the SANS and the BNSS nodes intermingled together. The SANS attention domain lied at the periphery of the network according to the Fruchterman–Reingold algorithm. The SANS anhedonia–asociality (strength = 1.48; EI = 1.48) and the SANS affective flattening (strength = 1.06; EI = 1.06) had the highest node strength and EI. Moreover, the five nodes of the BNSS bridged the nodes of the SANS and the SNS. BNSS blunted affect (strength = 0.76; EI = 0.76) and SANS anhedonia–asociality (strength = 0.76; EI = 0.74) showed the highest bridge strength and bridge EI. The BNSS captures negative symptoms and bridges the symptom domains measured by the SANS and the SNS. The three scales showed domain-specific correspondence.

     

精神分裂症患者自知力与内在耻感的相关性研究(英文)

背景精神分裂症患者自知力和内在耻感的关系具有理论和实践上的重要性,因为这和患者寻找或接受治疗的意愿密切相关。目的研究中国大陆精神分裂症患者自知力和内在耻感的关系。方法共有65例住院治疗的精神分裂症患者和27例门诊治疗的精神分裂症患者(病程的中位数为4年)完成了两个中文版自评量表-精神疾病内在耻感量表(Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness,ISMI)和修订版病耻感经历问卷(Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire,MCESQ)的测评。由高年资精神科医生采用阳性症状量表(Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms,SAPS)和阴性症状量表(Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms,SANS)评定了患者的精神病理症状。由两位高年资精神科医生采用简明精神病学量表中文版的自知力条目评定患者对自身精神疾病的认知,依据分数将患者分为有自知力组和无自知力组。结果有自知力组有49例患者,无自知力组为43例。无自知力患者的病程显著短于有自知力组,更可能为住院治疗者,并且具有更明显的阴性和阳性症状(仅仅表现在趋势上)。有自知力组患者在精神疾病内在耻感量表疏离分量表得分上显著高于无自知力组的患者,但是两个量表的其他分量表得分组间无统计学差异。两个量表48个条目中仅有4个条目得分存在组间差异。Logistic回归没有发现无自知力和两个耻感量表分数或症状量表得分之间存在相关性。结论在中国大陆精神分裂症门诊与住院患者中进行的本研究不支持以前的研究发现:即有自知力的精神分裂症患者会报告更多的耻感经历。本研究使用的耻感量表在中国地区的应用还需要进一步的修订和证实;未来需要对下列问题进行研究:选择不同诊断的患者、对自知力进行更精细的评估以及随时间推移自知力及病耻感经历的波动等等,进一步澄清精神分裂症患者中这两个现象间的复杂关系。     

社交技能训练改善精神分裂症患者阴性症状

目的 探讨社交技能训练对精神分裂症患者阴性症状、情绪表达的影响.方法 将140例恢复期精神分裂症患者随机分为干预组(74例)和对照组(66例).对干预组进行小组式社交技能训练,于训练前及训练后12个月采用阴性症状量表(SANS)、Montgomery-Asberg抑郁量表(MADRS)评定.结果 在训练后12个月时干预组的SANS总分(35.5)低于对照组(39.0)(Z=-2.684,P<0.05),对照组12个月时N4评分大于入组时评分(Z=-3.652,P<0.05);在MADRS评分中,除内心紧张、自杀观念外,干预组的其余评分和总分低于对照组(Z总分=-4.125,Z2=-2.389,Z7=-2.290,Z8=-2.992,Z9=-2.350,P<0.05),对照组的入组时和12个月相比,总分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 在药物治疗的基础上,系统而规则的社交技能训练可改善精神分裂症患者的阴性症状,延缓或阻止其社交退缩的发生,促进患者的情绪表达.     

Relationship between tobacco smoking and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia

In an attempt to understand the reasons behind the high prevalence of tobacco smoking in patients with schizophrenia, the study examined whether specific symptoms of schizophrenia were associated with smoking. Standardized assessments of nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence) and psychopathology (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) were performed on 87 inpatients with schizophrenia. Nearly 76% of patients were nicotine dependent. Significant positive correlations were found between Fagerstrom scores and the total negative symptom score and scores on the negative symptom subscales of blunted affect, social withdrawal, difficulty in abstract thinking, and stereotyped thinking. Fagerstrom scores were also significantly associated with impairment in attention, orientation, thinking, and impulse control. Positive symptoms were not significantly associated with smoking. A combination of negative symptoms, duration of illness, and alcohol use optimally predicted smoking in the sample. Neurobiological mechanisms could possibly underlie some of our findings and require further investigation.