Abstract
Objective: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are debilitating and they contribute to poor outcome in schizophrenia. Initial enthusiasm that second-generation antipsychotics would prove to be powerful agents to improve negative symptoms has given way to relative pessimism that the effects of current pharmacological treatments are at best modest. Method: A review of the current 'state-of-play' of pharmacological treatments for negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Results: Treatment results to date have been largely disappointing. The evidence for efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics is reviewed. Conclusion: The measurement and treatment trials methodology for the evaluation of negative symptoms need additional refinement before therapeutic optimism that better treatments for negative symptoms can be realized.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 93-100 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
Volume | 115 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2007 |
Keywords
- Antipsychotic medications
- Measurement
- Negative symptoms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health