Associated symptoms
The symptoms of schizophrenia simplex are summarized as so-called negative symptoms. What they have in common is the flattening or complete loss of previously existing behavior and thinking patterns. In this form of schizophrenia, the first symptoms begin, it is believed, in adolescence.
However, it can take years before they can distinguish a behavioral disorder, such as a slight lack of drive, from normal character development. Besides the listlessness, schizophrenia simplex presents itself in other aspects, such as depression. These include a loss of interest, a drop in performance, and the inability to meet social demands. These symptoms can appear very staggered and show a very slow but continuous progression.
Treatment
Since schizophrenia simplex is a progessive disease with unfavorable course. Since this form of schizophrenia differs significantly from other forms of this disease spectrum, the normal therapeutic concepts for schizophrenia do not work. The same applies to the use of antidepressants.
Overall, one must conclude that there are almost no specific concepts for the therapy of schizophrenia simplex. The only rarely used drug mentioned in the literature is Amisulpride, which is used for primary negative symptoms. However, the therapeutic effect on this specific subtype of schizophrenia has not yet been sufficiently proven clinically.
Duration
Schizophrenia simplex is generally considered to be an incurable disease with a poor prognosis. This is partly due to the progressive course of the disease, which is considered irreversible, and partly to the lack of concrete therapy concepts. In addition to the small number of cases, this is probably mainly due to the controversy over the diagnosis itself.
What is the course?
Schizophrenia simplex is a disease that usually begins at the age of 16-25 years. In most patients, the symptoms worsen continuously over the years, up to a fully developed spectrum of negative symptoms. A subsiding of the disease or an improvement in the course of the disease are not described.
What are the differential diagnoses?
There are a number of other diseases that can present like schizophrenia simplex. Most of them come from the schizophrenia group. One of them is the so-called schizophrenic residual.
This disease is initially accompanied by mild delusions or hallucinations (positive symptoms), which, however, subside in the course of time. The negative symptoms, however, persist and are very similar to the picture of schizophrenia simplex or moderate depression. The latter represents a further differential diagnosis in itself.
In addition to other diseases from this group of forms, such as a schizoid personality disorder, organic causes can also lead to similar psychological disorders. These include thyroid dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases such as MS or diabetes mellitus.
