Depression in schizophrenia: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of depressive symptomatology among a group of patients with schizophrenia, both inpatients and outpatients, and speculate as to the reasons why differences among the groups may be occurring.


METHODS
Fifty inpatients of Baillie Henderson Hospital, a chronic stay psychiatric hospital in Queensland, and 44 outpatients of this hospital were assessed on a number of measures including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia, Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Beck Depression Inventory. All patients were assessed in a structured interview for 35-40 minutes by the same clinician. A chart review also occurred. The chief outcome variable was a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale of 17 or greater.


RESULTS
Clinically significant depression, as defined by a Hamilton Depression score of 17 or greater, was found in 10% (n = 5) of the inpatient sample. Of the outpatient sample, 4.5% (n = 2) showed a clinically significant depression, which was not significantly different to the inpatient group. The prevalence of mild to moderate depression, as defined by a Hamilton Depression score of between 10 and 17, was 42% in the inpatient group and 47.7% in the outpatient group. There was no significant difference between the two groups on the mean Hamilton Depression scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a high level of depressive symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia. As suicide is common in this group, this finding is important. Self-reporting of this problem by patients with schizophrenia, by means of questionnaire, is feasible and provides comparable results to objective clinician ratings.
Markou
P
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Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology