Death Anxiety and Related Factors in Schizophrenia Patients: Controlled Study

The aim of the study was to investigate the level of death anxiety and related sociodemographic and clinical variables in schizophrenia patients. One hundred and ninety schizophrenia patients and 110 healthy controls were included the study. Death anxiety measured with Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS). The patients were also evaluated with scales in terms of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and suicide. The death anxiety level in patients with schizophrenia was significantly higher than the healthy controls. The severity of depressive and psychotic symptoms were related to the level of death anxiety. Patients with schizophrenia may need more protection and psychosocial interventions about death related themes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the level of death anxiety and related sociodemographic and clinical variables in schizophrenia patients. The results showed that patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher levels of death anxiety compared to healthy controls, and the severity of depressive and psychotic symptoms was related to the level of death anxiety.