Psychotic depression | |
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Other names | Depressive psychosis |
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A drawing that attempts to capture the sadness, loneliness, and detachment from reality, as described by patients with psychotic depression | |
Specialty | Psychiatry |
Symptoms | Hallucinations, delusions, anhedonia[1] |
Complications | Self-harm, Suicide |
Usual onset | 20-40 years old |
Duration | Days to weeks, sometimes longer |
Diagnostic method | Clinical interview[2] |
Differential diagnosis | Schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, dissociative disorders |
Treatment | Medication, cognitive behavioral therapy |
Medication | Anti-depressants, anti-psychotics |
Psychotic depression, also known as depressive psychosis, is a major depressive episode that is accompanied by psychotic symptoms.[3] It can occur in the context of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.[3] It can be difficult to distinguish from schizoaffective disorder, a diagnosis that requires the presence of psychotic symptoms for at least two weeks without any mood symptoms present.[3] Unipolar psychotic depression requires that psychotic symptoms occur during severe depressive episodes, although residual psychotic symptoms may also be present in between episodes (e.g., during remission, mild depression, etc.).[4][5][6][7][8] Diagnosis using the DSM-5 involves meeting the criteria for a major depressive episode, along with the criteria for "mood-congruent or mood-incongruent psychotic features" specifier.[9]