Emotional response as a function of symptoms in schizophrenia.
A group of 30 individuals with schizophrenia and a comparison group of 10 individuals who had never experienced a psychotic episode rated the pleasantness and arousal of 54 slides varying in normative pleasantness. Individuals with schizophrenia rated the slides as less pleasant than the comparison group. Positive symptom, negative symptom and disorganization symptom ratings were made for all patients with schizophrenia. Higher levels of disorganization symptoms were associated with lower ratings of pleasant slides and with more negative mood at the conclusion of the study. The conclusion from previous research that the self-reported emotional response of schizophrenia patients is not diminished compared to other groups may be premature, especially for patients with higher levels of disorganization.
Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7123, USA. sxq2@po.cwru.edu
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Quirk
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Strauss
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Sloan
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001143:Arousal; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012562:Schizophrenia, Disorganized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology