In 61 schizophrenic patients divided into subgroups according to DSM III-R, positive/negative symptoms and Leonhard's classification of systematic and non-systematic schizophrenia, the severity of illness (BPRS) and affective blunting (MARS and RSEB scales) were measured before and after neuroleptic therapy. The evaluation of affective blunting with the use of RSEB revealed more significant differences within schizophrenic subgroups than with the use of MARS. The severity of illness did not differentiate the subgroups studied. The affective blunting was more severe in patients with systematic than with non-systematic schizophrenia as well as in mixed and negative than in positive schizophrenia. The severity of illness correlated however with the severity of affective blunting. Clinical improvement after neuroleptic treatment was more favorable in patients with positive schizophrenia. The diminution of affective blunting after neuroleptic therapy varied among the subgroups.
