Summary
A depressive variant found in some chronic schizophrenics is described. It is characterized by inner deadness, total hopelessness, total worthlessness. Biological factors do not seem to be of major importance. Other features are helplessness, somatic complaints, fatigue or exhaustion. Inner deadness seems to be a form of permanent depersonalization. Total hopelessness is indicative that all attempts at psychic gratification have failed. It is tied up with worthlessness. The self is so involved in its own guilt and shame that it cannot accept objects and gratifications even if provided over extended periods of time. Implications for therapy are the ability to resist psychological withdrawal from these patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Glaser, Kurt: Masked depression in children and adolescents. Am. J. Psychother., 21: 565–574, 1967.
Spiegel, Rose: Anger and acting out: masks of depression. Am. J. Psychother., 21: 597–606, 1967.
Fox, Ruth: Alcoholism and reliance upon drugs as depressive equivalents. Am. J. Psychother., 21: 585–596, 1967.
Waggoner, R.: Depression, the simulator. Psychosomatics, 2: 264–269, 1961.
Lesse, S.: Hypochondriasis and psychosomatic disorders masking depression. Am. J. Psychother., 21: 607–620, 1967.
Sullivan, H. S.: Affective experiences in early schizophrenics. Am. J. Psychiat., 6: 468–483, 1927.
Freedman, A. and Redlich, F.: The Theory and Practice of Psychiatry. Basic Books, New York. 1966.
Havens, Leston L.: Anatomy of a suicide. New Eng. J. Med., 272: 8: 401–406, 1965.
Laing, R. D.: The Divided Self. Tavistock. London. 1960.
Meyer, Eugene, and Lino, Covi: The Experience of Depersonalization—The Inner World of Mental Illness, pp. 254–263. Harper and Row. New York. 1964.
Schmale. A. H.: Needs, Gratifications, and the Vicissitudes of the Self-Representation. Psychoanal. Study of Soc., II, 1962.
Engel, George L.: Psychological Development in Health and Disease. Saunders. Philadelphia. 1963.
Minkowski, Eugene: Findings in a Case of Schizophrenic Depression-Existence., Basic Books. New York. 1958.
Farber, Leslie: The Therapeutic Despair. Psychiatry, 21: 7–20, 1958.
Freud, Sigmund: Mourning and Melancholia: Collected Papers, Vol. IV, pp. 152–173, Ernest Jones (editor).
Bibring, Edward: The mechanism of depression. In: Affective Disorders, pp. 13–49. Phyllis Greenacre (editor) International Universities Press. New York. 1953.
Raskin, D. E., and Liberman, R. P.: Depression: A Behavioral Reformulation. To be published.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
From the National Institute of Mental Health-National Center for Mental Health Services, Training and Research-Seymour D. Vestermark Division of Intramural Training, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raskin, D.E. Masked depression in chronic schizophrenia. Psych Quar 44, 575–582 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562999
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562999