The relation of delusional content in psychotic depression to life-threatening behavior

A retrospective analysis of all medically serious suicide attempts made by 45 patients hospitalized consecutively at the Payne Whitney Clinic with the DSM-III discharge diagnosis of Unipolar Major Depression, Recurrent, With Psychotic Features was undertaken. Patients with delusions of bodily disease, damage, and malfunction were significantly less likely to make medically serious suicide attempts than patients with delusions of sinfulness, guilt, deserved punishment, or persecution.