Prevalence of depressive symptoms early in the course of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The rate of depressive symptoms early in the course of schizophrenia was determined.


METHODS
Seventy subjects with recent-onset schizophrenia were followed for 5 years by using semistructured interview instruments. The initial assessment included ratings of each criterion A symptom of a DSM-III-R major depressive episode. The rates of symptoms experienced with at least moderate severity were calculated, and an algorithm based on DSM identified subjects meeting the criteria for a major depressive episode.


RESULTS
Four symptoms were present to at least a moderate degree in a majority of subjects, while no symptom was present in fewer than 12% of subjects. More than one-third of the subjects met the algorithmic criteria for a major depressive episode at the time of intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms are common early in the course of schizophrenia. This finding is consistent with other recent data and has potential implications for current diagnostic and treatment practices.
Wassink
T H
TH
Mental Health Clinical Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA. thomas-wassink@uiowa.edu
Flaum
M
M
Nopoulos
P
P
Andreasen
N C
NC
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index