Negative symptoms and depression predict poorer psychological well-being in individuals with schizophrenia

A study published in Comprehensive Psychiatry evaluated the impact of negative symptoms and depression on psychological well-being in individuals with schizophrenia.

A number of previous studies have demonstrated that negative symptoms are linked to lower rates of recovery in individuals with schizophrenia when defining recovery in terms of symptom remission, vocational outcome, and social functioning. This study elaborated on these prior investigations by examining the other aspect of recovery, the subjective component, to determine whether negative symptoms predict lower self-reported well-being.

Participants included 56 individuals with schizophrenia and 33 controls who completed self-report measures of psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Individuals with schizophrenia also completed a battery of symptom measures.

Results indicated that individuals with schizophrenia self-reported lower psychological well-being than controls in relation to all 6 domains assessed: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Negative symptoms and depression were found to be significant predictors of psychological well-being among individuals with schizophrenia. These findings indicate that lower psychological well-being may be characteristic of individuals in the chronic phase of schizophrenia, particularly those with negative symptoms and/or depression and needs to be addressed with appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Article in Comprehensive Psychiatry