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Psychometric evaluation of the negative syndrome of schizophrenia

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Abstract

In this paper, we reviewed the available instruments for assessing the negative syndrome of schizophrenia, describing their strengths and weaknesses. Current instruments were classified into two categories according to their content validity and assessment approach as first- or second-generation instruments. The BPRS, SANS, the SENS and the PANSS belong to the first generation, while the BNSS, the CAINS and the MAP-SR belong to the second generation. The NSA can be considered a transitional instrument between the two. First-generation instruments have more content validity problems than second-generation instruments do, as they do not accurately reflect the currently accepted negative syndrome (they do not include all negative symptoms and signs or they include symptoms from other dimensions). They also have more problems relative to the use of behavioural referents instead of internal experiences of deficits when assessing symptoms, which may lead to measuring functioning instead of negative symptoms. Further research needs to be done in this area in order to ensure the evaluation of primary negative symptoms and internal experiences involved in negative symptoms rather than external behaviours.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sharon Grevet for her English assistance.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interests with the article’s content to declare.

Ethical standard

The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, c/Julián Clavería 6, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Maria Paz Garcia-Portilla, Pilar A. Saiz & Julio Bobes

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM Oviedo, c/Julián Clavería 6, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Maria Paz Garcia-Portilla, Leticia Garcia-Alvarez, Pilar A. Saiz, Susana Al-Halabi, Maria Teresa Bascaran, José Muñiz & Julio Bobes

  3. Hospital Clínico, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez 17, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    Maria Teresa Bobes-Bascaran

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza de Feijóo, 33003, Oviedo, Spain

    José Muñiz

Authors
  1. Maria Paz Garcia-Portilla
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  2. Leticia Garcia-Alvarez
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  3. Pilar A. Saiz
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  4. Susana Al-Halabi
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  5. Maria Teresa Bobes-Bascaran
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  6. Maria Teresa Bascaran
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  7. José Muñiz
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  8. Julio Bobes
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Correspondence to Julio Bobes.

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Garcia-Portilla, M.P., Garcia-Alvarez, L., Saiz, P.A. et al. Psychometric evaluation of the negative syndrome of schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 265, 559–566 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-015-0595-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-015-0595-z

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