Schizophrenia, Depression and a Glaring Gap in Knowledge

Jerry Kennard is a psychologist Interested Dr. Jerry Kennard is a psychologist, freelance writer & consultant.... Send Message Subscribe: Jerry Kennard

Friday, March 06, 2009
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Depression is a frequently occurring symptom in schizophrenia. Some maintain that depression is a symptom of schizophrenia whilst others view it as a discrete mood disorder. Whatever the standpoint the importance of depression in schizophrenia is important for at least two reasons. First, anything th...

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Antidepressants
Christina Bruni
Saturday, March 07, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Hi Jerry,

When I was released from the hospital I was depressed so my doctor put me on Pamelor for six months. I was depressed because I got sick again.

At any rate, because of the risk of suicide in people with SZ, it appears depression shouldn't go untreated, right?

Regards,

Christina

re: Antidepressants
Jerry Kennard
Saturday, March 07, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Hi Christina,

It should absolutely be taken seriously and treated accordingly in my view. Relatively little seems to be known about depression/schizophrenia. The danger is that some doctors view depression as just another symptom of schizophrenia and therefore overlook the symptoms. It's good to see your symptoms were properly acknowledged.

depression prodrome
DCROY9633
Saturday, March 07, 2009 at 06:17 PM

I think depression was a prodromal symptom in my case. I experienced hallucinations at an early age, but depression appeared about the same time and was much worse to me than psychosis. Depression stayed in the foreground and psychosis stayed in the background. I would still rather be psychotic than depressed. I attempted suicide 3 times and was hospitalized many times, more for depression than sz. I had 19 ECT sessions, to no avail. My doctor agrees that I will most likely be on meds for depression as well as sz for the rest of my life. I can do that. Yes, I can do that.

Carolyn