ZOTEPINE AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN THE PSYCH OPHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF DELUSIONAL DEPRESSION

15 delusional depressive inpatients (11 women, 4 men) were treated wit h a combination of a tri- or tetracyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline , maprotiline) and zotepine as antipsychotic co-medication. Treatment course over 28 days and response were observed using Hamilton-Depressi on-Scale (HAMD, 24-item-version) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (B PRS). In both scales a significant amelioration was observed especiall y during the first two weeks. Looking at different items of HAMD there was an impressive reduction of delusional symptoms (item 2,17,19,20,2 3 hopelessness, 24 worthlessness). So it could be shown that zotepine can be used as antipsychotic part in the antidepressive-antipsychotic treatment of delusional depression.