Pathophysiology and treatment of negative symptoms.
The assessment and clinical characterization of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are reviewed. While negative symptoms may be secondary to positive symptoms, extrapyramidal side-effects, depressive illness, chronic institutionalization or other factors, they may also be primary, i.e., integral to the disease process itself. Recent literature has suggested that negative symptoms may represent a distinct pathophysiological process mediated in part by serotonergic mechanisms. Atypical neuroleptics, which have dual effects on D2/5-HT2 receptors, have demonstrated clinical efficacy on both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia, and might help to clarify the pathogenesis of these symptom clusters.
Villeneuve
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Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Clinique Roy-Rousseau, Université Laval, Québec.
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018967:Risperidone; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D010880:Piperidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D018967:Risperidone