Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their co-occurrence among people living with schizophrenia in China: Prevalence and correlates

BACKGROUND The current study examines the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, their occurrence, and key socio-demographic and clinical correlates among people living with schizophrenia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 390 schizophrenia individuals. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, patient symptoms, functioning, and disability were assessed using standard assessment tools. RESULTS People living with schizophrenia had a prevalence of 40.51% for depressive symptoms, 29.74% for anxiety symptoms, and 26.41% for their co-occurrence. More symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04-1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.10) and higher disability (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.09) were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their co-occurrence. In addition, having middle school or high school education (OR: 2.48-2.61, 95% CI: 1.15-5.53), and being unemployed (OR: 4.98-9.08, 95% CI: 1.09-69.87) were associated with increased risk for anxiety symptoms and its co-occurrence with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Depressive and anxiety symptoms are relatively common. Interventions should carefully assess these symptoms to distinguish them from schizophrenia to target them in the treatment.