The temporal relationship between depressive and psychotic symptoms in recent-onset schizophrenia

The authors examined the temporal relationship between onset of depressive and psychotic symptoms in 27 patients with recent-onset schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder. Ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale were collected every 2 weeks for at least 1 year to specify onset of relapse or exacerbation. Six time periods were defined in relation to onset of psychotic symptoms, and the number of depressive periods was determined for each time period. Onset of depressive periods was concurrent with onset of psychosis more often than expected but was not associated with any other time period. The authors found no distinctive postpsychotic pattern of onset for depression.