RESUMO
Objective: To develop a Chinese version of the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome(SDS) and examine its reliability and validity. Methods: 123 schizophrenic patients finished the Chinese version of SDS and were subtyped into deficit (n=30) and nondeficit(n=93) groups. In addition, all patients completed BPRS, SANS and SAPS. The reliability analysis of SDS included Cronbach's ?琢 coefficients and mean inter-item correlations and the inter-rater reliability; while the validity analysis included construct validity and criteria validity. Results: The Cronbach's ?琢 coefficient and the mean interitem correlation coefficients of the negative symptoms severity subscale of SDS were 0.8441 and 0.4818, respectively. The inter-rater reliability for categorization was 0.8777. The correlation coefficients of the six negative symptom items with the total score ranged from 0.685 to 0.875,and that among the six negative symptom items ranged from 0.437 to 0.794. The negative symptom items and the total score of SDS were significantly correlated with the anergia factor score from the BPRS and the total score and several subscale scores of SANS, while none of them was correlated with subscale scores and total score of SAPS. Conclusion: The Chinese version of SDS was a reliable and valid measure for the diagnostic classification of deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia.