ABSTRACT
Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits are a major problem in schizophrenia and account for more functional impairment than do positive symptoms, especially in later stages of the illness. “Nellie” was a 30-something-year-old patient who was diagnosed with schizophrenia more than ten years prior, but had not had positive symptoms, including delusions or hallucinations, for several years. However, almost 90% of her day was spent watching television, staring at walls, or sleeping. This chapter discusses the great impact of negative symptoms and cognitive deficits through the story of Nellie and describes new research in this area, such as cognitive remediation therapy and other potential treatments for these symptoms.
