Functioning in middle aged and older patients with schizophrenia and depressive symptoms: relationship to psychopathology.
BACKGROUND
Depressive symptoms are common in middle aged and older patients with schizophrenia. The authors hypothesized that worse functioning in these patients would be associated with worse psychopathology.


METHODS
Outpatients with schizophrenia were > or =40 years old with subsyndromal depression and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Scores of > or =8. Exclusions were dementia, two months of either mania or major depression or 1 month active substance abuse/dependence. The authors administered performance based functional assessments, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia [PANSS], and Calgary Depression Rating Scale.


RESULTS
PANSS (-) scores were negatively correlated with the UCSD Performance Skills Based Assessment, Social Skills Performance Assessment and Medication Management Ability Assessment total error (MMAA) scores. Digit symbol scores served as a moderator of the relationship between MMAA and PANSS (-) scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Negative symptoms were associated with functioning. The relationship between negative symptoms and medication errors seem to weaken in subjects with quicker processing speed.
Kasckow
John
J
VA Pittsburgh Health Care System MIRECC and Behavioral Health Service; 7180 Highland Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. jkasckow@pol.net; kasckowjw@upmc.edu
Patterson
Thomas
T
Fellows
Ian
I
Golshan
Shahrokh
S
Solorzano
Ellen
E
Mohamed
Somaia
S
Zisook
Sidney
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009820:Ohio; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology