Depressive states occurring during the neuroleptic treatment of schizophrenia

Depressive states are often observed during the hospitalizations of acutely schizophrenic patients. But only a few studies have examined the frequency and course pattern of these depressions. In our investigation of 81 patients suffering from schizophrenic or paranoid psychoses and undergoing neuroleptic treatment, we found that the frequency and intensity of depression decreased from admission to discharge. On admission, 63 percent of patients showed a marked depressive apathetic syndrome, as compared to only 23 percent on discharge. Patients' self-rating data from the Actual Mood Scale (filled out every other day) showed that only a small proportion of the patients developed a depression during hospitalization without having also been depressed on admission. An analysis of psychiatrists' admission and discharge ratings produced similar results. Our findings suggest tht neuroleptics are unlikely to be the major cause of depressions in patients suffering from acute schizophrenic or paranoid psychoses.