DEPRESSION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - I - ASSOCIATION WITH NEUROPSYCHOLOGICALDEFICITS

Background: The presence of depression in schizophrenia has been well described with regard to stage and symptoms of illness; however, littl e is known about the possible etiology. Methods: In an effort to advan ce the understanding of the neurobiology of depression in schizophreni a, we grouped patients with schizophrenia based on their ratings on th e 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. There were 63 patients (35 men, 28 women) in the high (greater than or equal to 18) depression g roup and 81 patients (52 men, 29 women) in the low (< 18) depression g roup. The groups were compared in demographic, clinical, and eight neu ropsychological domains. Results: The two groups differed in age at on set of illness, severity of delusions, and performance in a single neu ropsychological domain: attention. The specific component of impaired attention was vigilance, with poorest performance seen in women with h igher depression scores. Conclusion: The presence of specific attentio nal impairment associated with depressive symptoms in schizophrenia is consistent with the hypothesis of frontal lobe dysfunction in depress ion, because these regions have been implicated in attentional process es. (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.