DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.12203 ISSN: 0924-9338

Schizophrenia, a Narrow Scope of Negative Symptoms in Correlation with Multiple Factors

S. F. Abu Dayeh, Q. H. Al-Rimawi
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Introduction

This study is conducted to observe negative symptoms details in correlation with multiple factors. 90 patients(n=90) diagnosed with schizophrenia were interviewed and observed in the outpatient clinic during there follow-up appointments.

Objectives

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First question: Are there any correlations between severity of negative symptoms and factors such as age, duration and educational level ?

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Second question: What is the relationship between compliance to medications and severity of negative symptoms?

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Third question: What are the differences between the specific negative symptoms developed between male and female patients as measured by PANSS?

Methods

90 patients with schizophrenia were observed and interviewed in the outpatient clinic during their follow up appointments, and patients’ informed consent was obtained. Pearson and Spearman’s Rho correlation tests, Kruska-Wallis test, independent t-test and PANSS, (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia), were used for this study.

Results

Table 1.

Pearson and Spearman’s Rho correlation tests results between age, and duration of the illness, and educational level with the negative symptoms

Table 1. Long description.

Variables
Age
Duration of the illness Educational level
Negative symptoms
Correlation Coefficient
.303** 0.324** –0.581**
Sig. (2-tailed)
0.005 0.002 0.000
Table 2.

Kruska-Wallis test for the differences in compliance to medications and the severity of negative symptoms

Table 2. Long description.

Compliance to medications
N
Mean Rank Kruska-Wallis H Sig.
poor
11
63.50 16.875 0.000
moderate
11 47.95
good
59 36.12
forced
3 71.00
Gender
N.
Mean Std. Deviation T Df Sig.
Male
49
26.65 7.551 1.681 88 0.096
Female
41 23.93 7.792

Conclusions

Table 1 analysis: age and duration of the illness are positively correlated to negative symptoms. Where we can notice that time is almost always related to more severe negative symptoms and patients who are educated, will have less severe negative symptoms. Table 2 analysis : patients who take their medications by force are the most compliant, although they represent a small number of the sample (n=3). Table number 3: there are no differences between either gender regarding the type of negative symptoms the patients develop.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

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