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Posted 9/14/2006 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
If there is a link between Schizophrenia and Depression? Just curious as I was told my brother has schizophrenia and I of course deal with depression. A couple of my Aunts had some sort of mental problems.. I'm not exactley sure what they had.. one of my Aunt's has since passed and my other Aunt I haven't seen since I was probabley 12 or 13 (I'm 37 now) and I'm not sure if she's still alive or not. These two Aunts were actually my favourite Aunts.. it seemed like one day they were there and the next day they weren't. I am sooo curious to know if they were ever diagnosed with anything.
As always this ended up being longer than planned again. Oooops
Posted 9/15/2006 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sunnee,  I can tell you without a doubt and 110% positivity that there is NO link between Schizophrenia and depression.

Doctors dont know how some people get Schizophrenia but some schizophrenics are treated for depression as this tends to be as symptom once mania is controlled.

So just because you have Depression does not mean that you will have or get Schizophrenia.

BTW, I like your sig... :-)

Posted 9/15/2006 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you soo much for sharing that information with me.. it's much appreciated. :-) oh and thank you for the compliment on my sig.. yeah
Posted 9/15/2006 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
You are most welcome Sunnee...anytime.. tongue
Posted 9/16/2006 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Sunnee,
I agree with els that these two mental illnesses are totally different. I have personal experience it myself. I have bipolar 2, disorder ( rapid cycling and mood disorder, including depression.) I have a very good friend who has a son with schizophrenia. His reactions are much different from anyone I have know with depression or bi-polar disorder. Although he is very depressed at times, he also is delusional and Patients who have been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia may at times, during the course of their illness, suffer from significant and discomforting depressive symptoms. This is most often the case in patients suffering from so-called negative schizophrenia. The negative symptoms that give this syndrome its name describe a series of deficits and are in many ways similar to the symptoms of depression. Thus these patients lack motivation, are lethargic, find it difficult to concentrate and experience a restricted range of emotional responses, which is very evident to others around them. The treatment of their symptoms, however, requires quite a different approach from the treatment used for the symptoms of common depressive illness.
Another group of sufferers from schizophrenia experience mood disorders including depression in the aftermath of their illness; this is often associated with a realization of the implications of their illness for their long-term well-being.
Posted 9/16/2006 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
(s): Written by: Petros Skapinakis, MD, MPH, PhD, lecturer of Psychiatry in the University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece. Eva Gerasi, postgraduate student in the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece. First version: 19 Aug 2003. Latest revision: 19 Aug 2003.
Is it possible to suffer from depression together with schizophrenia? What is the relationship between depression and schizophrenia?
Answer:
Patients who have been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia may at times, during the course of their illness, suffer from significant and discomforting depressive symptoms. This is most often the case in patients suffering from so-called negative schizophrenia. The negative symptoms that give this syndrome its name describe a series of deficits and are in many ways similar to the symptoms of depression. Thus these patients lack motivation, are lethargic, find it difficult to concentrate and experience a restricted range of emotional responses, which is very evident to others around them. The treatment of their symptoms, however, requires quite a different approach from the treatment used for the symptoms of common depressive illness.
Another group of sufferers from schizophrenia experience mood disorders including depression in the aftermath of their illness; this is often associated with a realization of the implications of their illness for their long-term well-being.


My personal experience is that Matt, my friend's son
suffers when he does not take his medication. The family suffers along with him. At times he does very well, but unmedicated leads to psychosis, depression and eventually hospitalization. His inability to commit to therapy or any kind fo self help keeps him in the cycle, unfortunately.

Be Well,

Judy
Posted 9/16/2006 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the info.. it does ease my mind.
It wasn't until my second break down that I realized I needed to go to the Dr.'s... I didn't know what was wrong with me.. why I was the way I was.. it was just after that time that I found out my brother was schizophrenic and didn't know what was wrong with my Aunts. My Dr reassured me that I did not have schizophrenia.. however during "this" bout of depression it has popped up again and just made me wonder... This must sound selfish but it's a relief knowing that there is not a link between the two sad
Posted 9/16/2006 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
You do not sound selfish at all sunnee, I understand whata you are saying. I hope you feel better now that you know there is no link between the two.
Hope you start to feel better soon.

Take care and keep in touch
Posted 9/17/2006 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you
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