Often the first sign of the onset of schizophrenia is a gradual, significant loss in emotion and motivation. Fifteen percent of individuals at the start of their schizophrenia develop this significant deficit in their emotions and motivation.
These emotional and motivational deficits are called the "negative symptoms" (or "deficit syndrome") of schizophrenia. These symptoms are called "negative" because they represent loss in functioning. The "negative symptoms" of schizophrenia, are:
Loss of interest in school or work
Loss of pleasure in usual activities
Loss of motivation to do usual activities
Lack of emotional expression
Decrease in spontaneous speech
Deterioration in hygiene and grooming
Social withdrawal
These negative symptoms of schizophrenia can significantly impair the individual's social and academic/occupational functioning.
For some, these negative symptoms increase the longer they have schizophrenia. The prevalence of negative symptoms or deficit syndrome is approximately 15% in first-episode patients with schizophrenia and 25%-30% in chronic schizophrenia.
Topic #5
Posted - 04/29/2016 : 21:43:00
