Basic symptoms in young female patients with depression within the framework of schizophrenia and affective spectrum disorders

Abstract

To investigate the structure and severity of basic symptoms in young female patients with endogenous depression. One hundred and nineteen female patients, aged from 16 to 26 years, were examined. Three groups were identified: patients meeting the criteria of high risk of psychosis (51 patients, mean age 18.55±3.84 years), patients not meeting the criteria of high risk of psychosis(48 patients, mean age 20.12±3.84 years), patients with postpsychotic depression (20 patients, mean age 21.8±4.5 years). The main method of the study was the application of COGDIS (Cognitive Distortions) and COPER (Cognitive-perceptual baseline symptoms) criteria. The baseline symptoms criteria were met by 83.3% of depressed patients without psychosis risk symptoms (mean severity score 24.0±14.7), 96% of depressed patients with high psychosis risk symptoms (38.1±15.9 points), and 50% of patients with postpsychotic depression (15.3±12.9 points). COGDIS criteria were met by 62.5% of depressed patients without psychosis risk symptoms (16.2±10.1 points), 68.6% of depressed patients with high psychosis risk symptoms (22.3±9.6 points), and 25% of patients with postpsychotic depression (9.2±8.4 points). The COPER criteria were met by 77.5% of patients with depression without psychosis risk symptoms (16.2±10.3 points), 92.2% of patients with depression at high risk of psychosis (28.4±14.0 points), and 50% of patients with postpsychotic depression (8.9±9.7 points). The group with post schizophrenic depression was characterized by lower basic symptom scale scores and percentage of eligible patients. Basic symptoms were common in a group of young female patients with depression who did not meet high-risk criteria. The score differentiates the high-risk group from the group of patients without risk symptoms.