Update: Negativsymptome. Psychopathologie, Epidemiologie, Pathophysiologie und Behandlungsoptionen.

Abstract

SummaryUpdate: Negative symptoms. Psychopathology, epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment options The negative symptoms of schizophrenia include blunted affect, alogia, a sociality, avolition and anhedonia. These symptoms are back in the focus of research owing to their strong impact on the functional ability and quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. Psychopathological research has led to a consensus about the relevant symptoms and their measurement. N eurocognitive research approaches mainly view negative symptoms as a dysfunction of goal-directed behaviour and pathophysiological processes in the underyling brain stuctures. Treatment with second generation antipsychotics as well as add-on drugs shows only moderate effect. Cognitive b ehavioural therapy approaches are promising, but there are only a few s tudies focusing on negative symptoms. This article provides an overview on the current state of research on the psychopathology, epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment options of negative symptoms.