[Evaluation of the emotional blunting and its prognostic importance during neuroleptic treatment of schizophrenia].

UNLABELLED

Emotional blunting is one of the basic negative symptoms in schizophrenia. This symptom, historically recognised as a static symptom in this disease, is not surrendering of treatment. Results of some new studies suggest, that the symptom of emotional blunting usually changes in the course of illness and during medical treatment. Thus, it is of prognostic significance.

AIM

The aim of study is an assessment of the intensity of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD

In the study, patients of both sexes treated in the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw were examined. Seventy patients with schizophrenia were examined five times: before, during and after 8-week pharmacological treatment. The clinical status of patients was assessed by means of RSEB (which estimates presence and severity of emotional blunting); PANSS (which estimates all psychopathological symptoms); and CGI (general clinical condition of patients).

RESULTS

The statistical analysis showed a high level of emotional blunting in the investigated group. Also, there is a statistical significant correlation between the emotional blunting and the general patients' condition; decrease of emotional blunting during pharmacological treatment improves the results of CGI. Severity of emotional blunting before treatment is a predictive factor of its severity after treatment. There were no significant associations between the emotional blunting and other analysed factors: age, gender, number of hospitalizations, duration of illness, dose of drugs, global result of PANSS and severity of depressive symptoms.