[Clinical and pathopsychological features of youth depression with attenuated schizophrenic symptoms]

To determine the clinical and pathopsychological features of youth depressions with attenuated schizophrenic symptoms (ASS), and their significance for early differential diagnostic and nosological assessment.

Twenty young patients (19.7±3.7 years) with the first depressive episode with attenuated schizophrenic symptoms (ASS) (ICD-10 items F32.1, F32.2, F32.3) (basic group) were divided into subgroup 1 with attenuated positive symptoms - APS (19.3%) and subgroup 2 with attenuated negative symptoms - ANS (45.1%). Eleven young patients (19.4±2.9 years) with the classic depressive episode without ASS (ICD-10 items F32.1, F32.2) were included in a control group. Psychometric scales HDRS, SOPS, SANS, pathopsychological methods and Adult Personality Traits Questionnaire (APTQ) were used.

Statistically significant differences in the severity of depression were not found. A higher SOPS total score (p=0.006) and a greater severity of negative symptoms on SANS (p=0.006) were detected in patients of clinical groups compared with the comparison group. Distortion of the generalization process was detected in 60% of cases, impairments of immediate memorization were found in 30%, and the non-constructive nature of associations in 10%. Indirect data on greater emotional integrity of patients from the comparison group was obtained.

The presence of similar clinical and psychological abnormalities in the youth depressions with ASS allows us to attribute these phenomena to the possible risk factors for the development of schizophrenia.