Depressive symptoms in a sample of Egyptian patients with schizophrenia: sociodemographic and clinical correlates

Abstract Background Recurrent depressive episodes adversely affect quality of life and treatment outcomes in cases with schizophrenia. This study determined the prevalence of depressive symptomatology among cases with schizophrenia, examined the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the development of depressive symptoms, and compared these characteristics between patients with positive and negative CDSS status. Results No substantial correlations were detected between CDSS scores and sociodemographic characteristics or clinical features, except for duration of illness. CDSS scores showed a statistically marked association with gender and history of suicide attempts (P < 0.05). Male sex was identified as a significant independent protective factor against depression, whereas a duration of schizophrenia of ≥ 8 years was a significant independent risk factor for its development. Conclusions Male sex was independently associated with lower odds of positive CDSS status, while a duration of schizophrenia of ≥8 years was independently associated with higher odds of depressive symptomatology, as defined by positive CDSS status.