Premorbid, clinical and cognitive correlates of primary negative symptoms in first-episode psychosis.
Negative symptoms are a core psychopathological dimension of psychotic disorders. Previous research on primary negative symptoms (PNS) mostly focused on chronic samples. Data regarding premorbid, clinical and cognitive correlates of PNS in the early illness course are limited and inconsistent. In this study, we assessed 355 Hong Kong Chinese adult patients presenting with first-episode psychosis (FEP) to early intervention service with an aim to examine the prevalence of PNS and its relationships with premorbid adjustment, clinical and cognitive profiles. PNS was defined as the presence of clinically significant negative symptoms excluding depression, positive symptoms and extrapyramidal signs. Results showed that 14.6% of patients exhibited PNS at service entry. PNS group had poorer premorbid social functioning, lower level of insight, and worse performance in Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting and digit symbol tests than non-PNS group. Logistic regression analysis showed that premorbid social functioning and digit symbol test score were independently associated with PNS. Our findings thus indicate that PNS are frequently observed in FEP patients. Deficits in proceeding speed, alongside impaired premorbid social functioning, might be specifically related to PNS in the early illness stage.
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: changwc@hku.hk.
Wing Chung
WC
Chang
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Charles Fu Chun
CFC
Lau
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Sherina Suet In
SSI
Chan
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Christy Lai Ming
CLM
Hui
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Sherry Kit Wa
SKW
Chan
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Edwin Ho Ming
EHM
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Jingxia
J
Lin
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Eric Yu Hai
EYH
Chen
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011599:Psychopathology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012919:Social Behavior
Digit symbol test; First-episode psychosis; Premorbid adjustment; Primary negative symptoms; Processing speed