Akinesia and postpsychotic depression: a difficult differential diagnosis

Abstract

Detailed clinical case descriptions highlight the potential symptomatic overlap between the syndromes of akinesia and postpsychotic depression in neuroleptic-treated patients. The cases demonstrate that both syndromes may resemble major depression phenomenologically. However, the syndromes are not identical in medication response. Thus, differential medication response may potentially be a useful tool in teasing apart the various postpsychotic depressionlike states in the course of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.