Delusional depression in elderly patients: Characteristics and relationship to age at onset

In a prospective study, 34 patients with delusional depression were compared with 100 non‐psychotically depressed patients and a subgroup of 30 age‐ and sex‐matched control patients. Depressed patients with delusions were more likely to be single, especially single men. The most common delusions were those of persecution and hypochondriasis. There were no striking differences in other depression symptoms and no evidence for the hypothesis that delusional depression is associated with a later age of depression onset.