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Threat Responses in Schizophrenia: A Negative Valence Systems Framework

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Emotions are prominent in theories and accounts of schizophrenia but are largely understudied compared to cognition. Utilizing the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Negative Valence Systems framework, we review the current knowledge of emotions in schizophrenia. Given the pivotal role of threat responses in theories of schizophrenia and the substantial evidence of altered threat responses, we focus on three components of Negative Valence Systems tied to threat responses: responses to acute threat, responses to potential threat, and sustained threat.

Recent Findings

Individuals with schizophrenia show altered responses to neutral stimuli during acute threat, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis connectivity in response to potential threat, and threat responses associated with sustained threat.

Summary

Our review concludes that Negative Valence Systems are altered in schizophrenia; however, the level and evidence of alterations vary across the types of threat responses. We suggest avenues for future research to further understand and intervene on threat responses in schizophrenia.

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Funding

The authors would also like to acknowledge the funding sources that supported this work: the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH127018-01 to JUB and NDW; T32MH018921 to BF).

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  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA

    Brandee Feola, Alexandra B. Moussa-Tooks, Julia M. Sheffield, Stephan Heckers & Neil D. Woodward

  2. Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Jennifer U. Blackford

  3. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Alexandra B. Moussa-Tooks

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Feola, B., Moussa-Tooks, A.B., Sheffield, J.M. et al. Threat Responses in Schizophrenia: A Negative Valence Systems Framework. Curr Psychiatry Rep 26, 9–25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-023-01479-9

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