The relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Depressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia and are considered core features of the disorder. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Eighty newly admitted patients were comprehensively evaluated for subjective well-being, schizophrenic symptoms, and depressive symptoms using the Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Correlation coefficients were obtained between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being while controlling for the influence of the severity of psychotic symptoms, extrapyramidal side effect, and subjective attitude toward antipsychotics, as assessed by the PANSS, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, and the Drug Attitude Inventory, respectively.


RESULTS
The SWN score had a significant negative correlation with the PANSS depression factor score (P < .001). Correlation analysis also revealed a significant negative correlation between the SWN score and the Beck Depression Inventory score (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study suggest that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with a low subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia and that the relationship is significant even after controlling for the influence of potential confounding variables. Detection and appropriate management of depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients may affect their perceptions of their own well-being.
Department of Psychiatry, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon 405-760, South Korea. jhnp@chol.com
Jong-Hoon
JH
Kim
Jun-Hyung
JH
Ann
Min-Jung
MJ
Kim
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents