Outcome at Discharge and Six Months in Major Depression

Inpatients with nonbipolar psychotic major depression (N = 46) had significantly lower Hamilton Rating Scale scores at discharge and a significantly greater number of weeks back to their "normal selves" during a 6-month follow-up than did patients with nonpsychotic major depression (N = 159). While both baseline severity and the receipt of electroconvulsive therapy distinguished these groups, neither accounted for the outcome differences noted. Severity ratings at discharge were clearly more predictive of follow-up course in psychotic patients than they were in nonpsychotic patients. Moreover, patients with psychotic depression had clearer outcomes in that their average follow-up weeks were more likely to involve either full syndromes or a complete absence of depressive symptoms. This finding, if replicated, may account in part for the lack of consensus on the prognostic significance of psychotic depression.