European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are integral to the prodromal stage; are less evident when positive symptoms dominate and contribute immensely to the outcome. Both Blunted Affect-Alogia cluster and Anhedonia-Avolition-Asociality cluster are observed in nearly two-thirds of the patients. The present study compares the schizophrenic patient’s psychosocial disability and his family’s experienced burden with those suffering from Bipolar illness. Materials and Method  Sixty patients in each group were studied using the novel Schedule for Assessment of Psychiatric Disability (SAPD) and the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS). Schizophrenics suffered significantly more in all domains of disability and caused more burden to their families in all considered parameters. The negative symptoms in schizophrenics were assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The clinical necessity of defining them in individual patients and researching newer pharmacological and psychosocial innovations to manage them are emphasized. Results  The symptoms showed significant contribution to both the individual’s disability level and to the family’s burden. Results in the study showed that disability resulted directly from the negative symptoms whereas family burden derived from factors other than negative symptoms alone. Conclusion  In schizophrenia, positive symptoms can cause acute exacerbations and interpersonal disturbances, but they are mostly amenable to pharmacotherapy. On the other hand, negative symptoms presented early and relentlessly progressed to residual stages.  They were pervasive and treatment-resistant. The clinical necessity of defining them in individual patients and researching newer pharmacological and psychosocial innovations to manage them are emphasized.