Symptomatologic analysis of psychotic and non-psychotic depression.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the symptomatologic presentation of delusional compared to non-delusional major depressive episodes.


METHODS
Two hundred and eighty-eight subjects suffering from mood disorder (144 bipolar, 133 unipolar) were assessed at admission by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-21).


RESULTS
Depressive symptomatology was more severe in the delusional sample, even after the exclusion of the items directly involved with delusional symptoms (P = 0.00002).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the hypothesis of delusional depression as a more severe form of mood disorder.
Lattuada
E
E
Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Department of Neuroscience, University of Milan, School of Medicine, Italy.
Serretti
A
A
Cusin
C
C
Gasperini
M
M
Smeraldi
E
E
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index