Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Linked With Increased Depression Severity

Scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were higher in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia compared with patients who achieved clinical remission of schizophrenia, according to a study published in the Journal of Integrative Neuroscience.

“These results show that depressive symptoms are part of the clinical picture of the schizophrenic process, especially in the presence of resistance to treatment,” wrote study author Georgi Panov of the University Hospital Psychiatric Clinic in Zagora, Bulgaria.

The study included 105 patients with schizophrenia at University Hospital. After 12 weeks of antipsychotic therapy, 60 patients were in clinical remission and 45 patients were categorized as having drug-resistant schizophrenia.

HAM-D scores in patients with drug-resistant schizophrenia were 13.82, according to the study, compared with 10.87 in patients in clinical remission.

Depression scores correlated with scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the study showed. On individual PANSS subscales, positive and disorganized symptoms correlated with HAM-D scores but negative symptoms did not.

“Our observation provides guidance for future research on the relationship between depressive complaints in the course of the schizophrenic process,” the author wrote. “We believe that it is necessary to conduct an analysis in a larger number of patients in order to make a more accurate assessment of the impact of depressive complaints on resistance in patients with schizophrenia.”

Reference:
Panov G. Higher depression scores in patients with drug-resistant schizophrenia. J Integr Neurosci. 2022;21(5):126. doi:10.31083/j.jin2105126