Depression is a frequent condition in early psychosis. Therefore, early detection instruments should distinguish depression from beginning psychosis

To examine whether basic symptoms, i.e. subtle subjective deficits, differ between participants suffering from a potential prodrome (n = 146), first-episode schizophrenia (n= 153) and non-psychotic depression (n = 115)

Basic symptoms were assessed with the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument

The prodrome and schizophrenia groups did not differ in level of basic symptoms but both had higher levels than the depression group. DSM – IV depression was frequent in those suffering from a potential prodrome (38%) and first-episode schizophrenia (21%). In both groups, participants with and without depression did not differ in basic symptoms. In multivariate analyses, consideration of current depression generally facilitated correct group classification, except for participants suffering from both a potential prodrome and depression

Cognitive basic symptoms distinguished well between all three groups. However, identification of persons suffering from a potential prodrome might be enhanced by considering current affective status

Cognitive disturbances have been demonstrated in individuals with potentially prodromal symptoms in objective–neuropsychological as well as subjective-symptomatic studies. Yet, the relation between subjective and objective deficits and to different prodromal states is unclear

To explore interactions between subjective and objective cognitive measures in different prodromal states

In participants with an early (n=33) or late (n=69) initial prodromal state, cognitive subjective and objective deficits were assessed with the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery

Participants with an early initial prodromal state were less impaired than those with a late initial state. Subjective and objective cognitive deficits were unrelated, excepttime-limited neurocognitive speed measures and subjectively reduced stress tolerance, especially in participants with an early initial prodromal state

Subjective and objective cognitive deficits are generally unrelated in the psychosis prodrome and as such they can add complementary information valuable for prediction. However, possible associations between the two levels might be better detectable in the less impaired early initial prodromal state