A clinical study of positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia.

Using a cross-sectional phenomenological approach, 40 schizophrenic patients satisfying Research Diagnostic Criteria were divided into positive, negative and mixed subtypes. On variables like age, duration of illness, and premorbid adjustment significant differences emerged between positive and negative subtypes. No significant differences were found when positive and negative subtypes were compared on variables like intelligence, memory, history of treatment with neuroleptics and electroconvulsive therapy and past and family history of schizophrenia. The results are compared with other studies.