Postpsychotic Depressive disorders of Schizophrenia

Postpsychotic Depressive disorders of Schizophrenia. According to DSM-IV-TR, postpsychotic depressive disorder in patients with schizophrenia included in the category of mood disorders Not Otherwise Specified.

DSM-IV-TR Research Criteria for Postpsychotic Depressive Disorder of Schizophrenia

1. Criteria are met for a major depressive episode.
   Note: The major depressive episode must include Criterion A1: depressed mood. Do not include symptoms that are better accounted for as medication side effects or negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
2. The major depressive episode is superimposed on and occurs only during the residual phase of schizophrenia.
3. The major depressive episode is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.

(From American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; copyright 2000, with permission.)

Epidemiology
Reported incidence postpsychotic depressive disorders of schizophrenia very diverse, ranging less than 10 percent to more than 70 percent.

Etiology
The etiology of postpsychotic depressive disorders of schizophrenia is unknown. Psychologically, some patients experience depression after realizing their vulnerability to mental illness, which lowers their self-esteem.

Prognostic significance
Patients with postpsychotic depressive disorders of schizophrenia tend to have poorer premorbid adjustment, schizoid personality traits are disrupted, and the onset of psychotic symptoms is dangerous. They also tend to have a close kinship with mood disorders. Although the findings have not been consistent, postpsychotic depressive disorder of schizophrenia has been associated with unfavorable prognosis, the likelihood of relapse, and incidence of suicide is higher than that seen in patients with schizophrenia without postpsychotic depressive disorder.

Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis
The symptoms of postpsychotic depressive disorders of schizophrenia similar with symptoms of residual phase of schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug side effects are commonly used. Doctors should not confuse the side effects of antipsychotic-induced akathisia and akinesia with symptoms of depressive disorders postpsychotic. And indeed it is difficult to distinguish the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with depressive type.

Treatment
Demonstrated the use of antidepressants in the treatment of depressive disorders postpsychotic schizophrenia, but response rates vary and are unpredictable.

Learn more about bipolar disorders not otherwise specified