An investigation of the postpsychotic depressive syndrome.

Postpsychotic depression is an important clinical phenomenon about which little is known. Using data from a cohort of 30 schizophrenic patients, the authors examine the frequency of the syndrome, predictive variables, and its prognostic implications. Their findings indicate that postpsychotic depression occurs commonly, especially in patients medicated during hospitalization; it is difficult to predict on the basis of the presenting clinical picture; it represents an already existing symptom comlex that remits more slowly than the acute psychosis; and it fails to predict a more favorable outcome for schizophrenia at one year.