Delusional Depression and Melancholia

Certain studies on measures related to central neurotransmitter activity have demonstrated that in delusional (psychotic) depression there is a dopaminergic dysregulation which distinguishes it from non-psychotic depression. A neuroendocrinologic method to check the degree of DA receptor responsivity is by measuring the prolactin responses to acute intramuscular administration of haloperidol. We studied this possibility by applying the haloperidol test in seven delusional and ten non-delusional depressed patients. All patients met DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode, single or recurrent, with or without psychotic features. After a three-week washout period, 5 mg of haloperidol were injected i.m. and blood samples were taken at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. In both trials, significant time effects were observed (elevated prolactin levels, F = 11.36, P = 0.000). However, the prolactin responses to haloperidol did not differ significantly between the two patient groups (F = 0.12, P = 0.97). These data do not show a difference in D2 receptor responsivity, at least at the hypothalamus-pituitary level, between psychotic and non-psychotic depression.

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Lithium augmentation of combined neuroleptic-tricyclic treatment in delusional depression

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1097/00004714-198308000-00023 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 259

Author(s):

Lawrence H. Price ◽

Yeates Conwell ◽

J. Craig Nelson

Keyword(s):

Delusional Depression ◽

Lithium Augmentation

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Delusional Depression

Archives of General Psychiatry ◽

10.1001/archpsyc.1981.01780290058006 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 424 ◽

Cited By ~ 154

Author(s):

Alexander H. Glassman

Keyword(s):

Delusional Depression

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Age at onset in late-life delusional depression

American Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1176/ajp.146.6.785 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 146 (6) ◽

pp. 785-786 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Keyword(s):

Age At Onset ◽

Late Life ◽

Delusional Depression

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Amoxapine in Psychotic-Delusional Depression

American Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1176/ajp.141.10.1312-a ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 141 (10) ◽

pp. 1312-a-1313 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. RAGHEB ◽

THOMAS A. BAN

Keyword(s):

Delusional Depression

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Delusional depression, family history, and DST response: A pilot study

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/0006-3223(86)90306-9 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 1239-1246 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Thomas C. Bond ◽

Anthony J. Rothschild ◽

Jan Lerbinger ◽

Alan F. Schatzberg

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Family History ◽

Delusional Depression

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Psychotic (delusional) depression and suicidal attempts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica ◽

10.1111/acps.12826 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 137 (1) ◽

pp. 18-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

R. Gournellis ◽

K. Tournikioti ◽

G. Touloumi ◽

C. Thomadakis ◽

P. G. Michalopoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Delusional Depression ◽

Suicidal Attempts

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Late-Life Delusional Depression: Acute and Long-Term Treatment

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610295002390 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. 113-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Barnett S. Meyers

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Late Life ◽

Poor Response ◽

Term Treatment ◽

Delusional Depression ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Medication Side ◽

Continuation Treatment ◽

High Doses

Treatment studies of delusional major depression demonstrate a poor response to standard antidepressant medications. Longitudinal studies demonstrate high relapse rates, even in patients receiving postdischarge antidepressants. The poor medical and psychiatric outcomes for late-life delusional depression and the increased risk for adverse medication reactions in this population underscore the importance of developing effective postrecovery treatments.Studies of mixed-age adults demonstrate the effectiveness of acute treatment with either electroconvulsive therapy or combination pharmacotherapy with high doses of neuroleptics and antidepressants. In considering these results in relation to the treatment of late-life delusional depression, attention must be given to the particular vulnerabilities to medication side effects of elderly patients.The potential effectiveness of continuation treatment with combined antidepressant-neuroleptic therapy is discussed. Clinical and methodologic issues related to studying the effectiveness of combination treatment in elderly patients are emphasized.

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