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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Negative symptoms hit hardest in schizophrenia. A new survey of 282 people with schizophrenia and their caregivers found that negative and cognitive symptoms — not hallucinations or delusions — most severely impact daily functioning, especially work and relationships. Both groups also flagged weight gain, movement side effects, and emotional blunting as top reasons for quitting medications.
A new cross-sectional survey published in Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science sheds light on what people living with schizophrenia — and those caring for them — actually want from treatment. Across 282 respondents (96 self-reported, 186 caregiver-completed), both groups consistently ranked negative and cognitive symptoms as more disruptive to daily life than positive symptoms like hallucinations or delusions, with work performance and interpersonal relationships taking the biggest hits.
When it came to stopping medications, the reasons were strikingly consistent: weight gain, movement-related side effects, and emotional blunting topped the list. Looking ahead, patients prioritized preventing delusions and hallucinations, while caregivers emphasized helping patients enjoy daily activities — but both groups stressed the urgent need for therapies that tackle cognitive and negative symptoms with fewer side effects.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Current antipsychotics largely target positive symptoms, leaving a significant treatment gap. This survey highlights that patients and caregivers are aligned on what's missing — and the findings could directly shape the next generation of schizophrenia drug development.
