Depression and suicide in schizophrenic patients.
This study supports the idea that schizophrenic patients represent a distinctive subgroup of patients who can suffer from a major depressive illness and also can commit suicide. The study showed that 22.4% of the schizophrenic population in a medium-sized psychiatric facility showed severe depressive symptoms that met the criteria for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to the DSM-III classification. Seven patients committed suicide during the acute phase of the illness--five during hospitalization, and two within a year of discharge. Nine patients attempted suicide during the hospitalization period, and 10 attempted suicide within a year of discharge. Nearly one-third (215) of the patients were readmitted during that year because of a recurrence of acute schizophrenic symptoms; of these, 84 were having severe depressive symptoms. The study also provides indications of the causes of suicide in these patients.
Salama
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Center for Psychiatric Education, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, Springfield 62708.
D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology