Negative Symptoms and Avoidance of Social Interaction: A Study of Non-Verbal Behaviour

firemonkey · December 11, 2017, 11:28am

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Negative Symptoms and Avoidance of Social Interaction: A Study of Non-Verbal Behaviour.

E Worswick, S Dimic, C Wildgrube and S Priebe, Psychopathology, Dec 2017 09

Non-verbal behaviour is fundamental to social interaction. Patients with schizophrenia display an expressivity deficit of non-verbal behaviour, exhibiting behaviour that differs from both healthy subjects and patients with different psychiatric diagnoses. The present study aimed to explore the association between non-verbal behaviour and symptom domains, overcoming methodological shortcomings of previous studies.Standardised interviews with 63 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were videotaped. Symptoms were assessed using the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS,) and the Calgary Depression Scale. Independent raters later analysed the videos for non-verbal behaviour, using a modified version of the Ethological Coding System for Interviews (ECSI).Patients with a higher level of negative symptoms displayed significantly fewer prosocial (e.g., nodding and smiling), gesture, and displacement behaviours (e.g., fumbling), but significantly more flight behaviours (e.g., looking away, freezing). No gender differences were found, and these associations held true when adjusted for antipsychotic medication dosage.Negative symptoms are associated with both a lower level of actively engaging non-verbal behaviour and an increased active avoidance of social contact. Future research should aim to identify the mechanisms behind flight behaviour, with implications for the development of treatments to improve social functioning.

GentleSoul · December 11, 2017, 11:35am

“…with implications for the development of treatments to improve social functioning.”

Yes.

firemonkey · December 11, 2017, 11:38am

That would certainly be a good thing. Current meds do little to help my social interaction difficulties.

TheGreatestDrZen · December 11, 2017, 11:49am

difficult…its no that the person has no skills its the fact they are no hobbit anymore. and seen foreign to someone with schizophrenia, subjecting the inability is not there in the brain and can be reteach in a group setting.