Core symptom domains in schizophrenia include positive, negative, disorganization, cognitive, and affective.1 A domain-based approach is more clinically informative than using subtypes.1 The Liddle framework highlights persistent negative and disorganization symptoms in schizophrenia.2 Symptom profiles help guide individualized clinical assessment and treatment.3 The Liddle framework identifies psychomotor poverty (e.g., reduced speech and movement), disorganization (e.g., thought disorder and inappropriate affect), and reality distortion (e.g., delusions and hallucinations) as distinct but related syndromes.2 This model expanded the earlier positive–negative symptom distinction by suggesting that schizophrenia symptoms group into three underlying syndromes rather than two.2
Related content
Continuous maintenance therapy is associated with a lower risk of relapse than intermittent treatment, supporting ongoing treatment strategies in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
Treatment response tends to be higher during a first episode than during subsequent episodes, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and effective management.
Negative symptoms are a core feature of schizophrenia and can have a profound impact on functioning, social relationships, and quality of life.