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[Psychotic masked depression or black mask for depression]
Acta Psychiatrica Belgica
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Acute psychotic reactions in Africa may be masked depression. Successful treatment with imipramine-type antidepressants, without neuroleptics, indicates depression as the underlying cause.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Cultural Psychiatry
Background:
- Masked depression diagnosis remains challenging, particularly in non-Western cultural contexts.
- The Pichot and Hassan criteria (1973) offer a framework for identifying masked depression.
- Understanding socio-cultural factors is crucial for accurate psychological assessment in diverse populations.
Observation:
- The study investigated the hypothesis that "bouffée délirante" (acute psychotic reactions) in Black Africa are manifestations of masked depression.
- Ten cases (five from Zaïre, five from Senegal) presenting with acute psychosis were analyzed.
- Patients were evaluated based on the five criteria of Pichot and Hassan, including depressive symptoms, personality, evolution, family history, and treatment response.
Findings:
- All ten patients diagnosed with "bouffée délirante" responded positively to imipramine-type antidepressant treatment.
- Complete remission was achieved rapidly in all cases without the use of neuroleptic drugs.
- The findings support the classification of "bouffée délirante" as a form of masked depression.
Implications:
- This research suggests that "bouffée délirante" in African populations should be considered a depressive disorder.
- Antidepressant therapy, specifically imipramine-type drugs, is an effective treatment for "bouffée délirante".
- Further research into the psychodynamics and socio-cultural underpinnings of masked depression in diverse populations is warranted.