The Association between Anomalous Self-experiences, Self-esteem and Depressive Symptoms in First Episode Schizophrenia.
Elisabeth Haug, Merete G Øie, Ole A. Andreassen, Unni Bratlien, Kristin L Romm, Paul Møller, Ingrid S. Melle
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience November 7, 2016 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00557 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders |
| Measures | Examination of anomalous Self-Experience (EASE), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (SCI-PANSS), Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT), Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, short form (CTQ-SF) |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Schizophrenia Gender differences Self-esteem Childhood trauma First episode psychosis Anomalous self-experiences |
| Key findings | Analyses detected a significant association between current depression and ASEs as measured by the EASE in women, but not in men; the effect of ASEs on depression appeared to be mediated by self-esteem. The authors propose that evaluating ASEs can assist clinicians in understanding patients' experience of self-esteem and depressive symptoms, and that the interaction among ASEs, self-esteem, depression, and suicidality could be a clinical target for preventing suicidality. |
Abstract
Background: Anomalous self-experiences (ASEs) aggregate in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the relationship between ASEs, and depression has been studied to a limited extent. Lower self-esteem has been shown to be associated with depression in early psychosis. Our hypothesis is that ASEs in early phases of schizophrenia are linked to lower levels of self-esteem, which in turn is associated with depression.
Aim: The aim is to examine the relationship between ASEs, self-esteem and depression in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Method: ASEs were assessed in 55 patients with first-episode schizophrenia by means of the Examination of anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) instrument. Assessment of depression was based on the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Symptom severity was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (SCI-PANSS). Substance misuse was measured with the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT), and alcohol use was measured with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Data on childhood adjustment were collected using the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS). Data on childhood trauma were collected using the Norwegian version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, short form (CTQ-SF).
Results: Analyses detected a significant association between current depression and ASEs as measured by the EASE in women, but not in men. The effect of ASEs on depression appeared to be mediated by self-esteem. No other characteristics associated with depression influenced the relationship between depression, self-esteem and ASEs.
Conclusion: Evaluating ASEs can assist clinicians in understanding patients' experience of self-esteem and depressive symptoms. The complex interaction between ASEs, self-esteem, depression and suicidality could be a clinical target for the prevention of suicidality in this patient group.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 4
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- Basic self-disturbance predicts psychosis onset in the ultra high risk for psychosis "prodromal" population. Schizophrenia Bulletin February 20, 2012
- Examination of anomalous self-experience in first-episode psychosis: interrater reliability. Psychopathology August 17, 2011
- Schizophrenia, consciousness, and the self. Schizophrenia Bulletin 2003