PSYCHOTIC DEPRESSION IN PRIVATE-PRACTICE OUTPATIENTS

Prevalence of psychotic depression, and comparison between psychotic a nd nonpsychotic depression, were studied in 203 consecutive unipolar a nd bipolar outpatients presenting for treatment of depression in a pri vate practice. Prevalence was 14%. Of the variables investigated (unip olar/bipolar diagnosis, age at baseline/onset, gender, recurrences, at ypical features, comorbidity, chronicity, duration of illness, baselin e severity) bipolar I diagnosis was significantly more common, and sev erity of depression was significantly greater in psychotic vs nonpsych otic depression. Discordant findings in the literature may be related to the different samples studied. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.