title: Stability trends and longitudinal correlations of negative and positive syndromes within a three-year follow-up of initially hospitalized schizophrenics.
abstract: Our study investigates whether the distinction between positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia--as discussed in the literature--can be confirmed by a factor analysis and whether such a distinction proves stability over time. In a further step, symptom factors are correlated to different external variables for the purpose of validation. Processed data cover 36 months obtained from a prospective 5-year follow-up study of 163 initially hospitalized schizophrenics. The results permit for dividing the symptoms into a total of five factors--two representing positive and negative symptoms and one representing the general neurotic syndrome. This factor structure proved to be stable over time. Correlations between symptom factors and external variables justify a trait-interpretation of the negative factor anhedonia.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bräuer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Händel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laubenstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003702:Delusions / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology