Prevalence of depression in schizophrenic patients evaluated by the Calgary Depression Scale in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya

Abstract

BackgroundPsychiatric comorbidities are communal among patients with schizophrenia. A significant percentage of patients with schizophrenia show depressive symptoms during the development of their illness. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression using the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) in a sample of Egyptian patients (Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya) with schizophrenia and without a diagnosis of depression. ParticipantsIn this cross-sectional study, we included outpatients from Menoufiya University Hospital and Shebin El-Kom Educational Hospital, 20-50 years old, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder that had not been diagnosed with depression. MethodologyWe administered the CDSS and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to the schizophrenia patient sample. Also, schizophrenia patients were studied according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. criteria. ResultsA total of 120 patients were recruited and included in the statistical analysis (72 men and 48 women). Sixty-three patients had a total score of 5 or more points on the CDSS, making the prevalence of depression 30%. The prevalence of depression in men (n = 24) was 33% versus 25% in women (n = 12). There was no significant difference between men and women in terms of the prevalence of depression. The CDSS had a higher correlation with the depressive factor of the PANSS and a moderate correlation with the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. Nonetheless, the correlation of the CDSS total score with the PANSS-negative was low. There was no correlation between depressive symptoms and positive symptoms. ConclusionOur results suggest that patients with schizophrenia who have not been diagnosed with depression frequently have clinically symptoms of depression, with the possible exception of a contribution from negative symptoms. CDSS is a more specific instrument to measure depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Predictors of unrecognised comorbid depression in patients with schizophrenia at Amanuel mental specialized hospital, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…This study found out that nearly one-third of PWS (30.3%) has undiagnosed depression in a stable phase of the disease. This is in agreement with previous studies 30% in Egypt, 32 27.2% in Greece 33 and 31% in Spain. 34 Similarly, a study among PWS living in a nursing home found out that more than one-fourth (26.5%) were present with depression.…”

Screening for Depression among Schizophrenia Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

“…In this study CDSS was higher in those who did not go out on passes, those with positive family history of bipolar and those with more comorbid systemic illness. These results are similar to El-Bahy and Mohamed 13 which suggest that patients with schizophrenia who have not been diagnosed with depression frequently have 30% clinical symptoms of depression. In addition, Subodh and Grover 14 found that one-fifth of their patients with schizophrenia had noteworthy depression that was associated with a higher level of disability in interpersonal activities, and poorer quality of life compared to schizophrenia patients without significant depression.…”

The Correlates of Quality of Life Among Jordanian Patients With Schizophrenia

“…Arab patients with mental illness have negative attitudes toward seeking professional help and often somatize their psychiatric symptoms to avoid the stigma associated with mental illness (Al-Krenawi, Graham, Dean, & Eltaiba, 2004; Rayan & Ahmad, 2016). Furthermore, the depressive symptoms and the limited professional support services provided for Arab patients with schizophrenia might be negatively associated with QOL among these patients (El-Bahy & Mohamed, 2013). After putting together these evidences, there is a need to assess specific factors associated with QOL among Arab patients with schizophrenia, which may be amenable to future interventions, and thereby improving their QOL.…”