Early career psychiatrists’ ability to evaluate and manage negative symptoms of schizophrenia – Results from a European survey
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Negative symptoms (NS) represent an important unmet need in schizophrenia (SZ) assessment and management. Despite NS are strongly associated with poorer functioning and quality of life, they are frequently underrecognized, inconsistently evaluated, and show limited response to current treatments. Although specific assessment tools and European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on NS have been developed, their impact on routine clinical practice appears limited. This study aimed to investigate the competence and confidence of European Early Career Psychiatrists (ECPs) in NS evaluation and management. METHODS: The CARE project was a cross-sectional online survey directed towards ECPs from European countries. RESULTS: 828 ECPs' responses were collected from 19 countries. The majority of ECPs were trainees (65.8%), reported theoretical training in negative symptoms (NS) and placements in schizophrenia-specialized settings (67.9% and 70.3%), while about half reported extracurricular NS training (51.1%) and involvement in clinical research (46.1%). Only 11% correctly identified NS domains, despite 65.7% felt well-trained in NS assessment tools. Just 15.9% correctly answered questions based on the EPA guidance papers. 46.7% and 25.9% ECPs reported feeling competent in NS evaluation and management, respectively. Gender (men) specialist status, research involvement, theoretical NS training, and placements in specialized SZ services predicted perceived competence. However, in-depth NS knowledge was predicted only by specialist status, engagement in clinical research, and extracurricular NS training. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reported exposure to NS training, ECPs demonstrated limited knowledge of NS. Actions need to be taken to ensure that ECPs receive the highest standard of training in NS.
Source: European Psychiatry
Authors: Anna Julia Krupa, Marcin Siwek, Tomasz Gondek, Gaia Sampogna, Renato de Filippis, Aistė Lengvenytė, Beren Özel, Cristiana Tăpoi, Visnja Banjac Baljak, Stefan Jerotic, Ruta Karaliuniene, Jesper Nørgaard Kjær, Giulio Longo, Petra Marinova-Djambazova, Sara Medved, Miloš Milutinović, Inés Oliveira, Dorottya Őri, Mariana Pinto da Costa, Diego Quattrone, Jördis Rausch, Georgios Schoretsanitis, Ekin Sönmez Güngör, Asilay Seker, Zbigniew Sołtys, Anna Szczegielniak, Jelena Vrublevska, Michael Wallies, Dominika Dudek, Andrea Fagiolini, Armida Mucci, Silvana Galderisi
Institutions: Jagiellonian University, DSW Ideis University, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Magna Graecia University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Inserm, Université de Montpellier, Hôpital Lapeyronie, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Spitalul Clinic de Psihiatrie Alexandru Obregia, University of Banja Luka, University clinical center of Republika Srpska, University of Belgrade, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, Marche Polytechnic University, Medical University of Sofia, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Semmelweis University, Heim Pál Országos Gyermekgyógyászati Intézet, Universidade do Porto, King's College London, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Albel Salazar, University of Freiburg, University Medical Center Freiburg, Northwell Health, University of Zurich, Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Medical University of Silesia, University of Latvia, University of Siena
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,300
OpenAlex ID: W4417422967
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