Conceptualization and treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia

Table 1 Negative Symptom Assessment scales

Assessment name	Scale	Negative symptom domains measured
Negative Symptom Assessment (NSA-16)	Score of 1 (normal)-6 (severe)	Five domains (each domain has several specific symptoms listed): Communication, Emotion/Affect, Social Involvement, Motivation, Retardation
	Each symptom within the 5 domains is scored separately
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale	Score of 1-7 on each item. Score of 7 indicates higher symptom severity	Seven domains: Blunted Affect, Emotional Withdrawal, Poor Rapport, Passive/apathetic Social Withdrawal, Difficulty in Abstract Thinking, Lack of spontaneity and Flow of Conversation, Stereotyped Thinking
Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms	Score of 0 (absent) -5 (severe) Each symptom within the 5 domains is scored separately	Five domains (each domain has several specific symptoms listed): Affective Flattening or Blunting, Alogia, Avolition-Apathy, Anhedonia-Asociality, Attention
Brief Negative Symptom Scale	Score of 0 (absent) - 6 (severe)	Six Domains (each domain has several symptoms listed): Anhedonia, Distress, Asociality, Avolition, Blunted Affect, Alogia
	Each domain is scored
Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms	Score 0 (no impairment) -4 (severe)	Five Domains (each domain has several specific symptoms listed): Asociality, Avolition, Anhedonia, Affective Flattening, Alogia
	Each symptom within the 5 domains is scored separately
Brief Negative Symptom Assessment	Score 1 (normal)-6 (severe)	Four Domains: Prolonged Time to Respond, Emotion, Reduced Social Drive, Grooming and Hygiene
Four item Brief Negative Symptom Assessment	Score 1 (normal)-6 (severe)	Four Domains: Restricted Speech Quantity, Reduced Emotion, Reduced Social Drive, Reduced Interests