Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27376016›Full record

ReviewCurrent treatment options in psychiatry

Treating Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: an Update.

Gary Remington, George Foussias, Gagan Fervaha, Ofer Agid, Hiroyoshi Takeuchi, Jimmy Lee, Margaret Hahn

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current treatment options in psychiatry. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 65 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
65citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

65 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  9. FAAH and MAGL inhibition: Evolving approaches to treating substance use disorders.Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2026
    Review
  10. Cerebellar-Prefrontal Connectivity Predicts Negative Symptom Severity Across the Psychosis Spectrum.Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging · 2026
    Article
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5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gary RemingtonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
George FoussiasDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
Gagan FervahaInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
Ofer AgidDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
Hiroyoshi TakeuchiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
Jimmy LeeDepartment of General Psychiatry 1, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, 539747 Singapore, Singapore ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.
Margaret HahnDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interest in the negative symptoms of schizophrenia has increased rapidly over the last several decades, paralleling a growing interest in functional, in addition to clinical, recovery, and evidence underscoring the importance negative symptoms play in the former. Efforts continue to better define and measure negative symptoms, distinguish their impact from that of other symptom domains, and establish effective treatments as well as trials to assess these. Multiple interventions have been the subject of investigation, to date, including numerous pharmacological strategies, brain stimulation, and non-somatic approaches. Level and quality of evidence vary considerably, but to this point, no specific treatment can be recommended. This is particularly problematic for individuals burdened with negative symptoms in the face of mild or absent positive symptoms. Presently, clinicians will sometimes turn to interventions that are seen as more "benign" and in line with routine clinical practice. Strategies include use of atypical antipsychotics, ensuring the lowest possible antipsychotic dose that maintains control of positive symptoms (this can involve a shift from antipsychotic polypharmacy to monotherapy), possibly an antidepressant trial (given diagnostic uncertainty and the frequent use of these drugs in schizophrenia), and non-somatic interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT). The array and diversity of strategies currently under investigation highlight the lack of evidence-based treatments and our limited understanding regarding negative symptoms underlying etiology and pathophysiology. Their onset, which can precede the first psychotic break, also means that treatments are delayed. From this perspective, identification of biomarkers and/or endophenotypes permitting earlier diagnosis and intervention may serve to improve treatment efficacy as well as outcomes.

Indexed as

Brain stimulationNegative symptomsPharmacotherapySchizophreniaTreatment

Identifiers

PMID27376016
PMCPMC4908169

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.