Basic symptoms in early psychotic and depressive disorders.
BACKGROUND
Depression is a frequent condition in early psychosis. Therefore, early detection instruments should distinguish depression from beginning psychosis.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether basic symptoms, i.e. subtle subjective deficits, differ between participants suffering from a potential prodrome (n=146), first-episode schizophrenia (n=153) and non-psychotic depression (n=115).


METHODS
Basic symptoms were assessed with the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument.


RESULTS
The prodrome and schizophrenia groups did not differ in level of basic symptoms but both had higher levels than the depression group. DSM-IV depression was frequent in those suffering from a potential prodrome (38%) and first-episode schizophrenia (21%). In both groups, participants with and without depression did not differ in basic symptoms. In multivariate analyses, consideration of current depression generally facilitated correct group classification, except for participants suffering from both a potential prodrome and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive basic symptoms distinguished well between all three groups. However, identification of persons suffering from a potential prodrome might be enhanced by considering current affective status.
Schultze-Lutter
Frauke
F
University of Cologne, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Early Recognition and Intervention Centre for Mental Crises (FETZ), 50924 Cologne, Germany. frauke.schultze-lutter@uk-koeln.de
Ruhrmann
Stephan
S
Picker
Heinz
H
von Reventlow
Heinrich Graf
HG
Brockhaus-Dumke
Anke
A
Klosterkötter
Joachim
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015983:Selection Bias