Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized by a constellation of clinical signs and symptoms that are categorized into distinct positive, negative, disorganization and cognitive symptom domains. It remains one of the most intriguing psychiatric research topics with a worldwide prevalence of 1% leading to lifelong disability in more than 50% of the sufferers. As a psychopathological entity, schizophrenia reflects the specific existential context of an individual, while maintaining a consistent core in regard to all stable and diagnostically relevant characteristics. In terms of content, schizophrenic manifestations display an abundance of individual differences, while the pattern related to symptoms and the course of the disease remains the same. No other disease can so radically damage the personality of the patient and potentially destroy the very foundations of what we consider to be the essential part of every human being. In medical terms, it is primarily a neurocognitive or neurobiological disorder. The outcome of the disease is better in female patients compared to male patients who have a higher risk of rehospitalization and twice as long duration of hospital treatment. An earlier onset of the disease in male patients, negative symptoms and a more severe clinical picture are noted, with a less promising therapeutic response to neuroleptics. The onset of negative symptoms is more variable. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of positive and negative symptoms (PANSS scores) and quality of life (The Flanagan scale) in patients with schizophrenia according to gender. Methods: The sample included 40 subjects with schizophrenia (21 males; 19 females). The study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Results: All male subjects have a PANSS negative symptoms score of 17 or higher, while all female subjects have a PANSS negative symptoms score of less than 17. While the difference in the variances is not statistically significant, the results show that the difference in the average values of the PANSS symptom score between male and female subjects is statistically significant for both positive and negative symptoms (p=0.026). The average score on the quality of life assessment scale for the observed group was 48.5 with a standard deviation of 5.6. The distribution of results on the Flanagan quality of life assessment scale (QOLS)deviates somewhat from the imaginary distribution of the normal distribution only in the area of higher and lower values, without the presence of distinct extremes. Negative symptoms were associated with different QOLS domains, but both positive symptom clusters showed no substantial association with QOLS. Conclusion: This aspect of the illness may account for the low level of emotional expression and neuromotor dysfunction in infants who subsequently have schizophrenia. In other patients, the negative symptoms first occur after the onset of psychosis. As a psychopathological entity, schizophrenia reflects the specific existential context of an individual, while maintaining a consistent core in regard to all stable and diagnostically relevant characteristics.

Key words: schizophrenia, PANSS, QOLS , gender differences.