The ineffectiveness of antidepressants, and the effectiveness of
neuroleptics alone, in the treatment of depressed schizophrenic patients is
evidence that a pharmacologically definable depression cannot be
demonstrated in schizophrenia. The author reports findings from a
double-blind 1-month study of 52 anergic and depressed schizophrenic
patients given thiothixene-placebo or chlorpromazine- imipramine. These
findings support DSM-III, which does not diagnose intercurrent, secondary
depression in the presence of schizophrenia. Consistent with most of the
clinical literature, this study also supports the use of a single
neuroleptic rather than neuroleptic- antidepressant combinations to treat
depressive symptoms secondary to schizophrenia.Abstract Teaser