Psychotic vs. Nonpsychotic Depression in Older Patients

The authors analyzed data from 42 inpatients age 55 or older with major depression. Ten patients had psychotic depression, and 32 had nonpsychotic depression. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean age at onset of depression, proportion of patients with previous episodes of depression, frequency of suicidal ideation, or number of family members with serious psychiatric illnesses. Patients with psychotic depression had greater severity of depression and more severe overall psychopathology at admission than the nonpsychotic group. Neuroleptics were used in a majority of the psychotic patients but in none of the nonpsychotic patients, whereas antidepressant use was similar. By the time of discharge, the two groups did not differ in severity of symptoms.