Threat Responses in Schizophrenia: A Negative Valence Systems Framework

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Emotions are central to schizophrenia theories but less studied than cognition.
• The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Negative Valence Systems framework provides a model for studying emotions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge of emotions in schizophrenia using the RDoC Negative Valence Systems framework.
• To focus on threat response components within Negative Valence Systems due to their significance in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on RDoC Negative Valence Systems and schizophrenia.
• Analysis of studies examining responses to acute, potential, and sustained threat.

Main Results:

• Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit altered responses to neutral stimuli during acute threat.
• Changes in bed nucleus of the stria terminalis connectivity are observed in response to potential threat.
• Threat responses associated with sustained threat are also altered in schizophrenia.

Conclusions:

• Negative Valence Systems are demonstrably altered in schizophrenia.
• The extent of these alterations varies across different types of threat responses.
• Further research is needed to understand and treat these threat response dysfunctions.