Post-psychotic depression in schizophrenia

Although a depressive state is known to occur following the resolution of a n acute psychotic episode, little research has investigated its etiology, c ourse, prognosis and treatment. Very often the depression is mistaken for a n extrapyramidal-like syndrome - the secondary effect of antipsychotic medi cation - as a sense of inevitability assails both the patient and therapist . Post-psychotic depression, far from being an obscure and undefined clinic al picture, has the characteristics of a clear-cut syndrome. Nevertheless, it was only recently referred to as a distinct entity in psychiatric classi fication systems. As a result, different researchers used varying criteria for the definition of the phenomenon, and the data collected in the differe nt studies are therefore difficult to compare. We present a critical review of the data published to date, with emphasis on the importance of early re cognition and treatment of post-psychotic depression.