Schizophrenia with depressive component or a ‘post-schizophrenic depression’ arises after a schizophrenic illness. Some of the schizophrenic symptoms may be present but no longer dominant1. These persisting schizophrenic symptoms may be “positive” or “negative”, though the latter are more common1. Pathophysiology of schizophrenia and depression There are many theories and hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia3. The well-known hypothesis with regards to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia began in the 1990s and consisted primarily of the notion there is a problem with the dopamine levels in the brain of schizophrenics3. Dopamine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, which means that it activates five different receptors in the brain3. Other …show more content…
Two voices she hears are worse at night finds it difficult to sleep. Cognitive function: orientated Insight: understands her diagnosis and treatment plan to make her better Risk assessment: reports feeling helpless and desperate like she wants to leave the world. Feels safe on the ward compared to outside and she thinks about harming herself all the time but can’t do anything about it and has not tried to harm herself. Patient met the criteria below and was given the diagnosis; Schizophrenia with depression: the individual has had a schizophrenic illness meeting the general criteria for schizophrenia within the past 12 months1; some schizophrenic symptoms are still present; and the depressive symptoms are prominent and distressing, fulfilling at least the criteria for a depressive episode, and have been present for at least 2 weeks1. Differential diagnosis explored: • Psychological reaction to schizophrenia • Antipsychotics medication causing depression • Schizoaffective disorder • Organic condition • Negative symptoms of