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The relationship between depression and overall, general psychopathology, positive, and negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a cross-sectional study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

F. Bartoli
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
A. Calabrese
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
F. Moretti
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
M. Castiglioni
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
L. Prestifilippo*
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
A. De Pietra
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
M. Gazzola
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
P. Camera
Affiliation:
2Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Nord Milano, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy
C. Crocamo
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
G. Carrà
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza 3Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Depressive symptoms are a common occurrence in people suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), representing a separate domain that interacts in peculiar ways with positive and negative symptoms. Nonetheless, available evidence on the relationship between depression and key clinical dimensions of SSDs is limited.

Objectives

To increase the knowledge regarding depression in SSDs, we performed a cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association of depressive symptoms with overall, general psychopathology, positive, and negative symptoms in individuals with SSDs.

Methods

Adult people with SSDs were recruited from two psychiatric inpatient units in the northern area of the Metropolitan City of Milan from May 2020 to March 2023. Study participants with a Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia score >6 were rated as depressed. Symptom severity was assessed by using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Variables associated with depression at the univariate level were included into two multiple logistic regression models to analyse the association between depression and PANSS overall score as well as General Psychopathology, Positive, and Negative sub-scores.

Results

A total of 231 subjects with SSDs were included. Among them, approximately one third (N=78; 33.8%) reported depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regression models suggested that depression in individiuals with SSDs was associated with higher overall (p<0.001) and General Psychopathology (p<0.001) PANSS scores. Conversely, an inverse relationship between depression and positive symptoms was found (p=0.002). Negative symptoms were not associated with depression (p=0.210).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that people affected by comorbid SSDs and depression have more severe overall and General Psychopathology symptoms according to PANSS scores, as well as lower levels of positive symptoms. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the generalisability of these findings and to improve the clinical management of people with SSDs and depression.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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