Wen Li1, Yuan Yang2, Feng-Rong An3, Ling Zhang3, Gabor S Ungvari4, Todd Jackson5, Zhen Yuan1, Yu-Tao Xiang6. 1. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. 2. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong, China. 3. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 4. University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 5. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, China. 6. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. Electronic address: xyutly@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Comorbid depressive symptoms (depression thereafter) often occur in schizophrenia and are associated with negative outcomes. This meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of comorbid depression and its associated factors in schizophrenia. METHODS: Both international (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and Chinese (WANFANG and CNKI) databases were systematically searched. Studies with data on the prevalence of comorbid depression in schizophrenia measured with the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were included. Random-effects models were used in all analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies covering 9,879 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of comorbid depression was 28.6% (95%CI: 25.3%-32.2%). Subgroup analyses revealed that studies examining inpatients, being published in Chinese language, or those with lower CDSS cut-od values reported higher depression rates. Meta-regression analyses indicated that the rate of depression was positively associated with publication year, proportion of males, mean age, and severity of psychotic symptoms, and negatively associated with illness duration and study quality. CONCLUSION: Comorbid depression is common in schizophrenia. Due to its negative impact on patients' quality of life and prognosis, regular screening and effective treatment for comorbid depression should be implemented in patients with schizophrenia.
INTRODUCTION: Comorbid depressive symptoms (depression thereafter) often occur in schizophrenia and are associated with negative outcomes. This meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of comorbid depression and its associated factors in schizophrenia. METHODS: Both international (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and Chinese (WANFANG and CNKI) databases were systematically searched. Studies with data on the prevalence of comorbid depression in schizophrenia measured with the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were included. Random-effects models were used in all analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies covering 9,879 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of comorbid depression was 28.6% (95%CI: 25.3%-32.2%). Subgroup analyses revealed that studies examining inpatients, being published in Chinese language, or those with lower CDSS cut-od values reported higher depression rates. Meta-regression analyses indicated that the rate of depression was positively associated with publication year, proportion of males, mean age, and severity of psychotic symptoms, and negatively associated with illness duration and study quality. CONCLUSION: Comorbid depression is common in schizophrenia. Due to its negative impact on patients' quality of life and prognosis, regular screening and effective treatment for comorbid depression should be implemented in patients with schizophrenia.