Treatment Options in Severe Psychotic Depression.
In our sample of 15 hospitalized patients with severe psychotic depression, six responded to therapy with tricyclic antidepressants combined with neuroleptics. Of the nine nonresponders, eight showed an excellent clinical response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The clinical outcome after 6 months of treatment was similar in both groups. We recommend that protracted, complicated trials of pharmacotherapy be reevaluated in psychotic depression. A prospective comparative study of ECT and pharmacotherapy is needed to define the optimal treatment for psychotic depression.
Khan
Arifulla
A
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Cohen
Seth
S
Stowell
Michelle
M
Capwell
Robin
R
Avery
David
D
Dunner
David L.
DL