Hospital-Based Management of Predominant Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: An Observational Study

Objective: The present study seeks to investigate the management of predominant negative symptoms in hospitalized patients and assess the impact of targeted pharmacological and psychological interventions.Methods: This longitudinal, prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted across multiple hospitals in Slovakia, focusing on inpatients, with assessments at admission and discharge.Eligible participants were hospitalized adults (18-65) diagnosed with schizophrenia (ICD-10) and predominant negative symptoms.Treatment effectiveness was measured using the modified Short Assessment of Negative Domain (m-SAND), Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS), Personal and Social Performance (PSP), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI-S, CGI-I) scales.Means changes and effect sizes were calculated from baseline to final assessment.Differences in the perception of negative symptoms between patients and doctors were examined.Results: At discharge, patients showed significant improvements in symptom severity and functioning on all scales.Primary and secondary negative symptoms significantly decreased, especially those linked to positive and affective symptoms.Functioning improved, with fewer severe impairments in https://doi.org/10.1017/S109285292610090XPublished online by Cambridge University Press daily life.Most patients were on antipsychotic polytherapy throughout hospitalization, with 85.7% receiving multiple antipsychotics at admission and 84.6% at discharge, most commonly cariprazinebased combinations.Non-pharmacological interventions were also widely used, with nearly nine out of ten patients receiving at least one such therapy during hospitalization.Some shifts in pharmacotherapy included decreased polytherapy leading to more patients on monotherapy. Conclusion:Negative symptoms in schizophrenia pose a major treatment challenge, leading to functional impairment and poor quality of life.While positive symptoms often trigger hospitalizations, negative symptoms have a lasting impact on prognosis.Results suggest both D3-receptor-targeted pharmacotherapy, particularly cariprazine, and integrated non-pharmacological interventions may contribute to meaningful improvements in negative symptoms during hospital care, thereby supporting better functional outcomes and recovery.