The Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia

This study found that 28.6 % of persons with schizophrenia had clinically significant depression. It was found that there were no significant differences in age, education, marital status, residence, occupation, or socio-economic class between the depressed and non-depressed groups. 40% of the depressed patients had a positive history of previous suicide attempts, while in the non-depressed group, only 14% had a positive history of prior suicide attempts. In this study, the psychopathology of schizophrenia measured by the PANSS positive scale, negative scale, general psychopathology scale, and the PANSS total score did not have any statistically significant correlation with the depressive symptoms assessed by the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia. The multidimensional model of schizophrenia gives a valid explanation for the absence of any correlation between depressive symptoms and other psychopathological entities. The clinically significant depression in schizophrenia is probably an independent component rather than a consequence of the psychotic symptomatology. The depressive symptoms should be addressed while treating schizophrenia, and appropriate therapeutic interventions are required to decrease the disease burden and improve the quality of life.