Depression in Schizophrenia, Can it be Treated? A Review of the Evidence

Abstract

Depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients are not usually the primary therapeutic goal, as the psychiatric evaluation of the schizophrenia is generally based in the assessment of the positive and negative syndrome. However, direct approach of the pure depressive symptoms in schizophrenia is of capital importance from both prognostic and therapeutical perspective. This paper reviews the recently published evidence on the treatment of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients, with a special emphasis on the efficacy of different pharmacological families. It also includes studies on the antidepressant effect and pharmacological profile of second-generation antipsychotics. Finally, it addresses the possible confusion between depressive and negative symptoms/extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic treatment. Keywords: Depression, schizophrenia, antidepressants, second-generation antipsychotics, negative symptoms, extrapyramidal symptoms