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BACKGROUND: During the last decades, a renewed interest for negative symptoms (NS) was brought about by the increased awareness that they interfere severely with real-life functioning, particularly when they are primary and persistent. METHODS: In this guidance paper, we provide a systematic review of the evidence and elaborate several recommendations for the conceptualization and assessment of NS in clinical trials and practice. RESULTS: Expert consensus and systematic reviews have provided guidance for the optimal assessment of primary and persistent negative symptoms; second-generation rating scales, which provide a better assessment of the experiential domains, are available; however, NS are still poorly assessed both in research and clinical settings.This European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance recommends the use of persistent negative symptoms (PNS) construct in the context of clinical trials and highlights the need for further efforts to make the definition of PNS consistent across studies in order to exclude as much as possible secondary negative symptoms. We also encourage clinicians to use second-generation scales, at least to complement first-generation ones.The EPA guidance further recommends the evidence-based exclusion of several items included in first-generation scales from any NS summary or factor score to improve NS measurement in research and clinical settings. Self-rated instruments are suggested to further complement observer-rated scales in NS assessment.Several recommendations are provided for the identification of secondary negative symptoms in clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of this guidance paper may promote the development of national guidelines on negative symptom assessment and ultimately improve the care of people with schizophrenia.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain a major therapeutic challenge. The progress in the conceptualization and assessment is not yet fully reflected by treatment research. Nevertheless, there is a growing evidence base regarding the effects of biological and psychosocial interventions on negative symptoms. The importance of the distinction between primary and secondary negative symptoms for treatment selection might seem evident, but the currently available evidence remains limited. Good clinical practice is recommended for the treatment of secondary negative symptoms. Antipsychotic treatment should be optimized to avoid secondary negative symptoms due to side effects and due to positive symptoms. For most available interventions, further evidence is needed to formulate sound recommendations for primary, persistent, or predominant negative symptoms.However, based on currently available evidence recommendations for the treatment of undifferentiated negative symptoms (including both primary and secondary negative symptoms) are provided. Although it has proven difficult to formulate an evidence-based recommendation for the choice of an antipsychotic, a switch to a second-generation antipsychotic should be considered for patients who are treated with a first-generation antipsychotic. Antidepressant add-on to antipsychotic treatment is an option. Social skills training is recommended as well as cognitive remediation for patients who also show cognitive impairment. Exercise interventions also have shown promise. Finally, access to treatment and to psychosocial rehabilitation should be ensured for patients with negative symptoms. Overall, there is definitive progress in the field, but further research is clearly needed to develop specific treatments for negative symptoms.