Predictors of unrecognised comorbid depression in patients with schizophrenia at Amanuel mental specialized hospital, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of depression in patients with schizophrenia (PWS) increases the risk of relapse, frequency and duration of hospitalisation, and decreases social and occupational functioning. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess prevalence of unrecognised comorbid depression and its determinants in PWS. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 March 2019 at Amanuel mental specialized hospital among 300 PWS. The 9-item Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia was used to assess comorbid depression. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between outcome and explanatory variables. Statistical significance was declared at p value <0.05 with 95% CI. RESULTS: The prevalence of unrecognised comorbid depression was found to be 30.3%. Living alone (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.49, 95% CI=0.45 to 8.36), having poor (AOR=4.43, 95% CI=1.45 to 13.58) and moderate (AOR=4.45, 95% CI=1.30 to 15.22) social support, non-adherence to medication (AOR=3.82, 95% CI=1.70 to 8.55), presenting with current negative symptoms such as asocialia (AOR=4.33, 95% CI=1.98 to 9.45) and loss of personal motivation (AOR=3.46, 95% CI=1.53 to 7.84), and having suicidal behaviour (AOR=6.83, 95% CI=3.24 to 14.41) were the significant predictors of comorbid depression in PWS. CONCLUSION: This study revealed considerably a high prevalence of unrecognised comorbid depression among PWS. Therefore, clinicians consider timely screening and treating of comorbid depression in PWS.