Schizophrenia Research Trends

In: Schizophrenia Research Trends ISBN 13: 978-1-60021-746-3Editor: Konstance V. Almann, pp. 55-93© 2008 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.Chapter IISCHIZOPHRENIA:A COGNITIVE SCIENCE VIEWPOINTGuy SandnerINTRODUCTIONThis review is an attempt to present recent progress in the pathophysiology ofschizophrenia. It is based on human research and lower animal models, with special emphasison models, i.e. on theoretical constructs that sustain them. Theories and their outcomes willbe briefly explained rather than deeply discussed. A selection of the literature in which thereader will find a more detailed analysis is provided whenever necessary rather than forjustifying each aspect.CLINICAL ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIASchizophrenia is a chronic disease with a high incidence (1%). A brief description of itssymptoms is provided in Box 1. It comprises “positive symptoms” that reflect an excess ordistortion of normal functions. Rigorous scaling methods were developed for researchpurposes, for example the SAPS (Scale of the Assessment of Positive Symptoms) [4]. Itgathers 34 precise items noted by a trained observer along a 0 to 5 scale, which ends in ascore. On the opposite, one may observe also “negative symptoms” in patients. Negativesymptoms reflect a diminution or loss of normal function. For them also, a scaling methodhas been established comprising 25 items. It is called SANS (Scale of the Assessment ofNegative Symptoms). Both positive and negative symptoms can be evaluated together usingthe 30 items PANSS scale (Positive and negative scale) [105].