29th January 2024

Mood and Anxiety Symptoms

Mood and anxiety symptoms occur at high rates in schizophrenic patients compared to the general population.

Depression

Depression can present in Schizophrenic patients during the acute psychotic phase or after as a distinct depressive episode. It is associated with poorer outcomes such as prolonged hospital admission, re-hospitalisation, severe cognitive impairment, significant decline in social functioning, poorer response to pharmacological treatments and increased attempted and completed suicides.

Depression can sometimes be mistaken as negative symptoms of schizophrenia; however, the distinction can be made when you consider the fact that depression will likely present with cognitive symptoms of depression such as guilt, shame, worthlessness and tearfulness. In some individuals, a ‘depressive prodrome’ precedes a Schizophrenic relapse; this can be anticipated in patients who have had similar episodes.

Anxiety

Individuals with schizophrenia can either experience anxiety as part of their schizophrenia syndrome (this is called secondary anxiety) or as an additional disorder. An example of this is when an individual develops anxiety due to terrifying hallucinations or paranoid delusions.