Rate of depression among patients with schizophrenia

Background and objective: Depression is a common comorbid mental condition in schizophrenia. This study aimed at estimating both the rate and demographic correlates of depression among patients with schizophrenia in Erbil, Kurdistan Region. Methods: Three hundred patients with schizophrenia were assessed for the possible existence of comorbid depression. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was confirmed by Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Each participant, however, was assessed by Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia for possible concurrent depressive disorder. Results: Of 300 patients with schizophrenia, 101 (33.7%) had concurrent depression as well. When all demographic variables considered, altogether, through logistic regression analysis, none of them discriminated, significantly, depressed from non-depressed patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion: Depressive disorders are frequently experienced by patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatrists are in charge to pay greater attention to this, life-threatening, mental disorder whenever they come across patients diagnosed as schizophrenia.