Outcome at discharge and six months in major depression. The significance of psychotic features.
Inpatients with nonbipolar psychotic major depression (N = 46) had significantly lower Hamilton Rating Scale scores at discharge and a significantly greater number of weeks back to their "normal selves" during a 6-month follow-up than did patients with nonpsychotic major depression (N = 159). While both baseline severity and the receipt of electroconvulsive therapy distinguished these groups, neither accounted for the outcome differences noted. Severity ratings at discharge were clearly more predictive of follow-up course in psychotic patients than they were in nonpsychotic patients. Moreover, patients with psychotic depression had clearer outcomes in that their average follow-up weeks were more likely to involve either full syndromes or a complete absence of depressive symptoms. This finding, if replicated, may account in part for the lack of consensus on the prognostic significance of psychotic depression.
D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales