Blunted affect in schizophrenia

Blunted affect is a prominent negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by decreased facial, gesture, and vocal expressions. Blunted affect is prevalent in one-third of people with schizophrenia and is associated with clinical and functional correlates, including social functioning, quality of life, and suicide. While treatments are sparse and generally noneffective, there is increasing research in the field seeking to elucidate underlying mechanisms in order to better understand pathways to blunted affect. This editorial defines blunted affect and discusses the prevalence, historical context, and assessment methods. Furthermore, we highlight possible mechanisms of blunted affect and discuss additional considerations that serve as future directions for this area of research.