title: First self-perceived signs and symptoms in emerging psychosis compared with depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate differences between the early symptoms of schizophrenia and depressive disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS), 17 of whom later made the transition to psychosis, 37 patients with a first episode of psychosis and 16 controls with depressive disorders were interviewed about first self-perceived signs and symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In ARMS and first episode of psychosis, on average, first self-perceived signs or symptoms had occurred about 5-6 years before the interview. In ARMS, including transition to psychosis, 'loss of energy' and 'difficulties concentrating' were the most frequently recalled first signs. There was much overlap for the four most frequently mentioned symptoms in the three groups. As compared with ARMS, controls with depressive disorders significantly more often recalled 'depression' and 'social isolation' as the very first signs of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should consider the development of self-recalled first signs over time carefully when assessing suspected early prodromal stages of schizophrenia and beginning depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, Psychiatric Outpatient Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aston
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gschwandtner
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pflueger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stieglitz
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riecher-Rössler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept