Death anxiety and attitude to death in patients with schizophrenia and depression

Attitude to death and death anxiety in patients with severe psychiatric disorders have been studied rarely so far, although this is an existential perspective for each human being and clinically seems to be changed in patients with depression and schizophrenia. Patients with depression (mean age 46.30 +/- 13.39; 12 women, 8 men) and schizophrenia (mean age 38.95 +/- 1285; 9 women, 11 men), as well as healthy controls, were included in the study. Death anxiety and attitude to death were assessed using the newly developed and currently validated BOFRETTA scale. Attitude to death was significantly worse in the group of patients with schizophrenia, especially in those with prominent negative symptoms. Concerning death anxiety, patients with schizophrenia and also those with depression exhibited higher mean values compared with healthy controls in the same age range. These results suggest that there are specific similarities and differences concerning attitude to death and death anxiety in patients with psychotic and affective disorders. It can be concluded that existential aspects such as death and meaningful life should also be considered within the treatment of patients with severe mental disorders.