Basic symptoms in early psychotic and depressivedisorders

BackgroundDepression is a frequent condition in early psychosis. Therefore, earlydetection instruments should distinguish depression from beginningpsychosisAimsTo examine whether basic symptoms, i.e. subtle subjective deficits,differ between participants suffering from a potential prodrome(n = 146), first-episode schizophrenia(n= 153) and non-psychotic depression(n = 115)MethodBasic symptoms were assessed with the Schizophrenia PronenessInstrumentResultsThe prodrome and schizophrenia groups did not differ in level of basicsymptoms but both had higher levels than the depression group. DSM – IVdepression was frequent in those suffering from a potential prodrome(38%) and first-episode schizophrenia (21%). In both groups, participantswith and without depression did not differ in basic symptoms. Inmultivariate analyses, consideration of current depression generallyfacilitated correct group classification, except for participantssuffering from both a potential prodrome and depressionConclusionsCognitive basic symptoms distinguished well between all three groups.However, identification of persons suffering from a potential prodromemight be enhanced by considering current affective status