Citation

Gutierrez Rodriguez M, Garcia Cabeza I, Sanchez Diaz EI, Gonzalez de Chavez M. Arch. Psiquiatr. 2000; 63(1): 81-92.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Fundación Archivos de Neurobiología, Publisher Editorial Triacastela)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Depressive symptoms are common during the different phases of schizophrenia and have been associated with an increased risk of suicide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and nature of these depressive disorders, their temporal relationship with the different phases of the disease, and their influence on the prognosis.

METHOD: A total of 46 schizophrenic out-patients were included in the study. The depressive symptoms were evaluated retrospectively and up to the present time with the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, the Beck Depression Inventory and also the G6 item (depression) of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

RESULTS: 67.3% presented some form of depressive disorder during their disease (16.1% prior to onset; 12.9% prodromal depression; 17.7% in the first episode; 6.5% in the acute phase; 48.4% post-psychotic depression and 19.4% in the chronic phase). 34.7% had a history of attempted suicide and 35.5% had received antidepressive treatment at some time during their illness. There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic characteristics, toxic drug use or number of previous hospital admissions. The mean scores of the SAI-E insight scale and of the GAS scale were significantly higher in the subgroup with a history of depressive disorders.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a high frequency of depressive symptoms in all phases of schizophrenia and this is associated with an increased suicide risk. There is a possible relationship with insight. It is necessary to use specific scales to evaluate depression in schizophrenia.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; article; clinical article; depression; Depression; female; human; male; negative syndrome; prognosis; rating scale; Rating scale; schizophrenia; Schizophrenia; scoring system; suicide; Suicide