Objective To detect the contingent negative variation (CNV) in first episode deficit and non-deficit schizophrenia and the relationship between CNV and clinical symptoms. Methods Nihon Kohden evoked brain potentials machine were used to measure CNV in 60 patients with non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS), including 50 patients with deficit schizophrenia (DS) and 60 unrelated healthy controls (HC). Click-flashing paradigm was used to record the CNV and the differences among three groups were compared. The clinical status of patients with schizophrenia was determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The overall functioning status was assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Partial correlations were computed to explore associations among the CNV in DS and the clinical data, controlling the sex, age, and education level. Results Compared to HC, both DS and NDS groups showed significantly reduced amplitude of B (F=27.38, P=0.00), significantly delayed reaction time (F=50.30, P=0.00). Compared to HC, the course of PINV in the DS group significantly shortened, while it was significantly delayed in the NDS group (F=15.32, P=0.00). Only in DS, when compared with that in HC, the latency of point A in CNV was delayed (F=61.01, P=0.00). There was no significant difference among three groups in both area of A-S2’ (F=2.34, P=0.10) and area of PINV (F=1.07, P=0.35). Amplitude of B and the course of PINV in the DS group correlated negatively with PANSS subscale of negative symptoms (r= –0.94, –0.89, respectively, Plt;0.05), whereas in the NDS group amplitude of B correlated negatively with PANSS subscale of positive symptoms (r= –0.87, Plt;0.05), but the course of PINV correlated positively with PANSS subscale of positive symptoms (r=0.88, Plt;0.05). Latency of point A in CNV, which was delayed in the DS group, correlated negatively with GAF (r= –0.48, Plt;0.05). Conclusion Generalized abnormalities of CNV existed in DS and NDS, while DS may cause more impairments in CNV than in NDS. The latency of point A in CNV may predict the social function outcomes of DS.