AMPHETAMINE AND NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

The purpose of this study was to assess further the effect of amphetam ine on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Thirty-seven schizophrenic males meeting DSM-III criteria were rated with the Brief Psychiatric R ating Scale, the Abrams and Taylor Scale, and the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale before and after double-blind administration of eithe r amphetamine (n = 26) or placebo (n = 11). Our results indicated that amphetamine administration generally did not improve negative symptom s, even when accounting for changes in positive symptoms. However, gre ater baseline negative symptoms were associated with a modest diminuti on after amphetamine treatment. Therefore, amphetamine may modestly im prove negative symptoms in those schizophrenics in whom this symptomat ology is more severe.