The positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia: patterns of response to depot neuroleptic treatment.

The pattern of response of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia to depot neuroleptics was studied in a Nigerian Sample of schizophrenics in a drug-free state. Both positive and negative symptoms showed significantly good response, but positive symptoms were more responsive. Cultural factors do not seem to influence the pattern of response. Rather, neuroleptic naivety may enhance the responsivity of positive symptoms, whereas stimulating millieu (non-pharmacologic) factors may enhance that of negative symptoms.