Treating' Depression' in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Thorough Differential Diagnosis Determines the Best Treatment Approach

Siris, Samuel G., Current Psychiatry

Approximately 25% of schizophrenia patients experience course-related depression. (1-4) Depression in patients with schizophrenia is linked to reduced social and vocational functioning, increased likelihood of psychotic relapse and rehospitalization, and other problems. (2-4) Depression in patients with schizophrenia also has been linked to undesirable life events, especially "exit events" such as losing people in their lives, as well as suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicides. Overall, it has been noted that approximately 10% of patients with schizophrenia commit suicide. (5) Depressed schizophrenia patients are at particularly high risk for suicide the first few months after diagnosis and after hospital discharge.

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Confirm the diagnosis

The best approach to treating depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients is to formulate a thorough differential diagnosis (Table 1, page 36).

Table 1

Differential diagnosis of 'depression' in schizophrenia

Organic factors

Antipsychotic-induced dysphoria

Akinesia

Akathisia

Negative symptoms

Acute disappointment reactions

Chronic disappointment reactions

Prodrome of psychotic relapse

Depression

Organic etiologies such as medical illnesses--including anemia, cancer, endocrinopathies, infections, and autoimmune, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurologic disorders--may contribute to a patient's depressive symptoms. "Depression" also can be a side effect of medications used to treat medical conditions, such as antihypertensive and antineoplastic agents, steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and sedative hypnotics, or could be secondary to dose reduction or discontinuation of other agents, such as corticosteroids or psychostimulants. Substance abuse also can play a role in depressive symptoms, either through acute or chronic use or discontinuation. In particular, chronic cannabis abuse can lead to an anergic state that resembles depression, and cocaine withdrawal typically features depression-like symptoms. Additionally, withdrawal from caffeine or nicotine--substances patients with schizophrenia often use heavily--can lead to dysphoric states that are difficult to distinguish from depression.

Antipsychotic-induced dysphoria. Blockade of dopamine receptors is an important feature of all antipsychotics; however, dopamine neurotransmission also is involved in the brain's "pleasure" pathways. Individuals who take antipsychotics may experience reduced joy from once-pleasurable activities. Results of studies on the link between depression and antipsychotics have been mixed. (2), (4) Although some researchers have found depressed mood common among patients receiving antipsychotics, others have failed to show differences between patients treated with antipsychotics and those randomized to placebo.

Akinesia, a parkinsonian side effect of anti-psychotics, can be blatant or subtle. …

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Publication information: Article title: Treating' Depression' in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Thorough Differential Diagnosis Determines the Best Treatment Approach. Contributors: Siris, Samuel G. - Author. Journal title: Current Psychiatry. Volume: 11. Issue: 8 Publication date: August 2012. Page number: 35+. © 2007 Dowden Health Media, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2012 Gale Group.

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