title: Negative symptom subgroups have different effects on the clinical course of schizophrenia after the first episode: a 24-month follow up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the factor structure of negative symptoms in first-episode schizophrenia (FES), and to examine the relationship of these factors with clinical course and functioning of patients during the two-year follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 174 drug-naïve patients with FES using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Expanded (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and a cognitive battery at admission. The scales were repeated monthly during follow up. We recorded the patients' functioning levels, remission, and work status after 12 and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-factor structure was found at the baseline, whereas one factor was found after 12 and 24 months. Expressive deficit (ED) factor consisted of alogia and blunted affect, and motivation-pleasure deficit (MPD) factor consisted of avolition and anhedonia. ED factor was related to earlier onset and remission, and it was negatively correlated with duration of education and cognitive test scores. MPD factor was related to duration of untreated psychosis, family history of schizophrenia, and work status, and it appeared as the only independent variable that contributed to the baseline GAF score in linear regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the factors have different aetiologies and impacts on the clinical course of schizophrenia and functioning after FES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Millet Street, Çapa, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ergül
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Millet Street, Çapa, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: alpucok@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Üçok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: BPRS; First episode schizophrenia; Negative symptoms; Neuropsychological tests; SANS; SAPS