The Prevalence of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia and Their Impact on Patient Functioning and Course of Illness

Patients with schizophrenia may not complain about negative symptoms, but at least half of them suffer from a lack of energy, pleasure, emotion, or social abilities. These deficits affect patients’ long-term functioning, outcomes, and quality of life. This activity explores the structure, prevalence, diagnosis, and impact of negative symptoms, which have long been ignored as treatment targets. More research is needed on effective treatments for primary and persistent negative symptoms to help clinicians better address these issues and improve the often seriously impaired social and occupational functioning of their patients.