Psychotic Depression
Psychotic depression refers to symptoms of psychosis during an episode of severe depression, often with depressive “themes” (such as guilt, poverty or illness). Psychotic symptoms can include:
Hallucinations: Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by in the mind (such as hearing voices or seeing images no one else hears or sees).
Delusions: Beliefs that are clearly false, which can be about anything but commonly are about persecution, infidelity, guilt or unworthiness, love or grandeur, as well as religious or nihilistic delusions
Psychomotor impairment: Disrupted connections between mental and muscle functions, affecting the way one moves or talks, for example.
State of stupor: A serious mental state where individuals do not respond to normal conversation, but do respond to physical stimulation, such as to pain or to rubbing on their chest.
Research estimates psychotic depression affects 10-19% percent of individuals having a MDD episode. Among those receiving inpatient care for depression, this rate increases to 25-45% percent of adults.
Read more about depression and other mood disorders.