Depressão e esquizofrenia

Depressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia. They can be present in different phases of the disease, i.e. in the pre-psychotic phase, during acute psychosis and after remission of psychotic symptoms. Although the recognition of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia is not new, the concept of distinct depressive syndromes is a relatively recent development. These syndromes are associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality of the schizophrenic patients and also with decrease in their quality of life. Recent studies have demonstrated that depression in acute psychosis can be effectively treated with neuroleptics. Moreover, post-psychotic depression seems to respond to antidepressants associated with neuroleptics. The new generation of neuroleptics represents a promise in the effective treatment of different depressive syndromes in schizophrenia. However, to define the best treatment for these depressive symptoms, more studies emphasizing the moment when they occur in the course of schizophrenia are still necessary.