Prevalence and clinical correlates of depression in the acute pha.pdf (80.12 kB)
Prevalence and clinical correlates of depression in the acute phase of first episode schizophrenia
Version 2 2021-12-20, 11:50
Version 1 2019-11-22, 16:20
journal contribution
posted on 2019-11-22, 16:20 authored by Eric Roche, Mary Clarke, Stephen Browne, Niall Turner, Orflaith McTuige, Moaayad Kamali, Anthony Kinsella, Conall Larkin, John L. Waddington, Eadbhard O'CallaghanBackground: Reported rates of depression in
schizophrenia vary considerably.
Objective: To measure the prevalence of depression in a first episode sample of people with schizophrenia.
Methods: All referrals with a first episode of
schizophrenia diagnosed using SCID interviews were assessed pre-discharge and again six months later. We used the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to assess the severity of symptoms.
Results: Pre-discharge, 10.4% of the sample met
CDSS criteria for depression. According to the PANSS depression (PANSS –D) subscale, 3% of patients were depressed, with a mean score of 7.48 (SD = 2.97). Only 3% of patients pre-discharge were found to be depressed on both the CDSS and the PANSS-D. Six months later 6.5% were depressed according to the CDSS. However none reached depression criteria according to the PANSS-D.
The CDSS correlated with PANSS-D both pre-discharge and at follow-up. Feelings of depression and self-deprecation were the most common symptoms at baseline and follow-up. The CDSS was unrelated to negative symptoms
at both stages. A lifetime history of alcohol abuse
increased the risk for depression.
Conclusion: Rates of depression in this sample were low. The CDSS appears to discriminate between depression and negative symptoms. Like the general population, alcohol misuse is a risk factor for depression in first episode schizophrenia.