NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS, DEPRESSION AND PARKINSONIAN SYMPTOMS IN CHRONIC, HOSPITALIZED SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Background: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are often confounded by overlapping depressive and parkinsonian symptoms. The role of medicat ion as an aetiological factor in the development of these symptoms is an important issue for prevention and treatment. Methods: A total of 4 5 inpatients in chronic wards who met RDC criteria for schizophrenia w ere assessed with the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and nega tive symptom rating scale (NSRS) and the targeting abnormal kinetic ef fect scale (TAKE). Results: No significant correlation was found betwe en the total scores on the vegetative superfactor of the HDRS and the NSRS. Duration of neuroleptic treatment was positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.299, P < 0.05) and negative symptoms (r = 0.443, P < 0.001). Dose of antipsychotic was also correlated positivel y with negative symptoms (r=0.260, P<0.05). Age was negatively correla ted with depressive symptoms as assessed by the HDRS (r = 0.306, P < 0 .05). Conclusion: The data suggest that depressive and negative sympto ms can be separated in chronic schizophrenia, while pointing to a poss ible role of antipsychotic medication in the aetiology, Limitations: T he study was conducted in a small chronically hospitalised population treated with relatively high doses of antipsychotics. It is not clear that the results obtained here would be applicable to an acute patient population. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.