Attachment patterns are associated with symptomatology and course of schizophrenia in male inpatients.

The authors tested the hypotheses that the insecure attachment styles of adult patients with schizophrenia are associated with (a) diagnosis, (b) psychopathological syndromes, and (c) course of the disorder. Thirty schizophrenic and 30 age-matching control males answered a self-report questionnaire tapping secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent attachment styles. The patients were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (M.

Aggregability of red blood cells of schizophrenia patients with negative syndrome is selectively enhanced.

Schizophrenia patients can be categorized into positive and negative syndromes (PS and NS) by the behavioral criteria of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), but these symptoms can also be evaluated as a continuous trait. Both types exhibit cerebral microcirculatory disorders, which are ameliorated by drug treatment in PS but not in NS patients. Red blood cell (RBC) aggregability plays a major role in the microcirculation.

Interpersonal distance in schizophrenic patients: relationship to negative syndrome.

Background: Personal space is the area individuals maintain around themselves into which others cannot intrude without arousing discomfort.

Objective: We tested the hypotheses that psychological distancing of patients with schizophrenia would be a characteristic of 1) diagnosis and/or 2) syndrome.

Methods: For this aim, 30 schizophrenic and 30 age matching normal males established comfortable interpersonal distances for 20 word-stimuli representing family members, significant others, self-images, emotionally neutral and threatening surroundings.

The impact of side-effects of antipsychotic agents on life satisfaction of schizophrenia patients: a naturalistic study.

This study compared the impact of side-effects of antipsychotic treatment, clinical and psychosocial factors on the subjective quality of life (QOL) of hospitalized patients. We surveyed 161 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia stabilized on conventional and atypical antipsychotic drugs using standardized measures of adverse events, psychopathology, psychosocial variables, and perceived QOL. We found that patients with adverse events reported less satisfaction with life domains of subjective feelings and general activities than asymptomatic patients.