The Nature and Prevalence of Depression in Chronic Schizophrenic In-patients

Out of 194 chronic schizophrenic in-patients, depressed mood was present in 25. When compared with 25 matched controls, patients with depressed mood had significantly higher scoreson the MADRS & the BDI. Serious suicidal ideas & auditory hallucinations were significantly more common in the depressed group. Findings suggest that the depression was not related to drug treatment, nor was it a direct manifestation or misinterpretation of negative symptoms. 44 refs.