Depression ‘Revealed’ in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Since Helmchen and Hippius (1967) noted that half a sample of 120 schizophrenics had depressive symptoms at the time of admission, more than 30 papers have appeared associating depressive symptoms in schizophrenics with neuroleptic medication (Ananth and Chadirian, 1980). Many authors and clinicians in fact think that a causal relationship has been proven, and the term ‘pharmacogenic depression’ and the associated concept ‘akinetic depression’ have come into use. The assumptions underlying these concepts and the evidence to support them need critical examination. They will be considered with the results of more recent studies which answer some of the outstanding questions, but in turn raise new ones about the relationship of schizophrenia and depression to their underlying pathophysiology.