Negative symptoms in schizophrenia, assessed by the brief negative symptom scale, self-evaluation of negative symptom scale, and social cognition: a gender effect

Abstract

Objective Negative symptoms of schizophrenia can be related to social cognition. The aim was to measure a relationship between the results on the new scales for the assessment of negative symptoms such as the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) and Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS), and the measures of social cognition. Methods The study included 80 patients (40 men, 40 women) with schizophrenia, aged 19–63 (mean 38 years), during the improvement period. They were assessed using the BNSS, SNS, Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales, and the tests for social cognition such as the Facial Emotion Identification Test, Reading the Mind in Eyes Test, Strange Stories and Faux Pas Test. Results Male patients obtained higher scores than females when assessed by the BNSS. No gender differences were observed for the SNS scale. Female patients scored better in the PSP and both parts of the Faux Pas test and obtained a significant correlation between the results of the SNS scale, BNSS, PSP, and the affective part of the Faux-Pas test what was not the case in males. Conclusions Gender differences were found in the assessment of negative symptoms by a clinical scale and the relationship between negative symptoms and social cognition. KEY POINTS Female patients scored better in the BNSS, PSP and both parts of the Faux-Pas test Gender differences were present in the assessment of negative symptoms by clinical (BNSS) but not the self-assessment (SNS) scale. Female patients obtained a significant correlation between the results of the SNS scale, BNSS, PSP, and the affective part of the Faux-Pas test what was not the case in male subjects.