Delusional and nondelusional unipolar depression: Further evidence for distinct subtypes

D. S. Charney, J. C. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

208 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a retrospective analysis, the course, symptoms, treatment response, and personality of 54 delusional and 66 nondelusional unipolar depressed patients were compared. The delusional patients had more guilt feelings and were more ruminative, agitated, and referential than the nondelusional patients. They had a poor response to tricyclic antidepressant therapy but good treatment outcome with a tricyclic-antipsychotic combination or ECT. The form and content of prior episodes were remarkably similar to the index episode in both groups. The authors believe that these findings support the conception of unipolar delusional depression as a distinct subtype of depressive illness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)328-333
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry
Volume138
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Delusional and nondelusional unipolar depression: Further evidence for distinct subtypes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this