Psychosocial correlates with depressive symptoms six years after a first episode of psychosis as compared with findings from a general population sample.
BACKGROUND
Depression is frequently occurring during and after psychosis. The aim of this study was to analyze if the psychosocial characteristics associated with depression/depressive symptoms in the late phase of a first episode psychosis (FEP) population were different compared to persons from the general population.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent out to all individuals six years after their FEP and to a general population sample. Depressive symptoms were recorded using a self-rating scale, the Major Depression Inventory.


RESULTS
Formerly FEP persons had a higher representation of depressive symptoms/depression, unemployment, financial problems and insufficient social network. Depressive symptoms/depression were found to be associated with psychosocial problems. An age and gender effect was found in the general population, but not in the FEP sample. When the psychosocial characteristics were taken into account there were no association between having had FEP and depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between having been a FEP patient and depressive symptoms/depression disappeared when negative social aspects were taken into account.
Dep. of Public Health, Division of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Yvonne.Forsell@phs.ki.se
Yvonne
Y
Forsell
Sonja
S
Levander
Johan
J
Cullberg
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014478:Unemployment