Measurement of depression and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
The validity of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) as a measure of depressive symptomatology in schizophrenic patients is questionable since it was not developed for this purpose, nor has it been validated in a schizophrenic population. Accordingly, 80 schizophrenic inpatients were administered the HAM-D, the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) at drug-free baseline and after 4 weeks of neuroleptic treatment. The findings revealed that the HAM-D total score was nonspecific, while individual HAM-D subfactors provided a better index of various symptom complexes. The HAM-D contained a depressive factor that correlated strongly with the BPRS depression factor and a negative symptom factor that correlated strongly with the SANS and the BPRS negative symptom factor. These findings suggest the need to utilize specific assessment techniques rather than global measures when assessing depression in schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia Program, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
R S
RS
Goldman
R
R
Tandon
I
I
Liberzon
J F
JF
Greden
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents