The negative syndrome of schizophrenia: three -underlying components are better than two

Schizophr Res. 2015 Aug;166(1-3):115-8. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Abstract

Aims: To analyse the underlying structure of the negative syndrome of schizophrenia as it is represented in the Brief Negative Symptom Scale.

Methods: Cross-sectional, multicentre study, employing data from 190 evaluations.

Statistics: Exploratory factor analysis using the principal component analysis method.

Results: The three-component solution explained 77.4% of the total variance. Pearson correlation coefficients between components were: 1-2=-0.494, 1-3=-0.117, and 2-3=0.179.

Conclusion: Our solution favours a three-component structure of the negative syndrome, consisting of: external world (anhedonia and asociality), inner world (avolition and blunted affect), and alogia, with the latter only marginally related to the two former components.

Keywords: BNSS; Negative syndrome; Principal component analysis.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect
  • Anhedonia
  • Aphasia / diagnosis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pleasure
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Social Behavior