Negative symptoms in patients with basal ganglia strokes

Summary: This study applied the concept of "negative symptoms" to stroke patients and attempted to establish whether negative symptoms are prevalent in basal ganglia stroke patients. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were administered to patients with basal ganglia strokes and comparison subjects with strokes in other parts of the brain. Negative symptoms, but not positive symptoms or symptoms of depression, were significantly more prevalent in patients with basal ganglia strokes. These results support the hypothesis that basal ganglia dysfunction plays an etiologic role in negative symptoms.