STABILITY OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Fifty-nine DSM-III-R schizophrenic outpatients were assessed for posit ive and negative symptoms using Andreasen's Scale for Assessment of Po sitive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Sympto ms (SANS). Reevaluation of these patients 12 months later revealed a m oderate degree of stability for both SAPS and SANS total scores and mo st of their subscales. Only the subscale scores for apathy and bizarre behaviour failed to show a significant correlation in stability in 12 months. The results are discussed in the context of the reported lite rature.