title: The Longitudinal Course of Gross Motor Activity in Schizophrenia - Within and between Episodes.
abstract: Schizophrenia is associated with heterogeneous course of positive and negative symptoms. In addition, reduced motor activity as measured by wrist actigraphy has been reported. However, longitudinal studies of spontaneous motor activity are missing. We aimed to explore whether activity levels were stable within and between psychotic episodes. Furthermore, we investigated the association with the course of negative symptoms. In 45 medicated patients, we investigated motor behavior within a psychotic episode. In addition, we followed 18 medicated patients across 2 episodes. Wrist actigraphy and psychopathological ratings were applied. Within an episode symptoms changed but activity levels did not vary systematically. Activity at baseline predicted the course of negative symptoms. Between two episodes activity recordings were much more stable. Again, activity at the index episode predicted the outcome of negative symptoms. In sum, spontaneous motor activity shares trait and state characteristics, the latter are associated with negative symptom course. Actigraphy may therefore become an important ambulatory instrument to monitor negative symptoms and treatment outcome in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stegmayer
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampa
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strik
keywords: PANSS; actigraphy; avolition; negative symptoms; psychosis