Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2006 Nov;13(4):234-243.

Treatment Strategies for Psychotic Depression

• Lee SI
• Jung HY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Several factors, such as biological markers, clinical correlates, and course of the depressive disorders with psychotic symptoms differ from those without psychotic symptoms. Therefore, specification of a treatment algorithm for depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms is legitimated. This article provides a systematic review of somatic treatments for depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms.
METHODS
According to the search strategy of the Clinical Research Center for Depression of Korean Health 21 R & D Project, first, PubMed and EMBASE were searched using terms with regard to the treatment of depressive disorders with psychotic symptoms(until July 2006). Reference lists of related reviews and studies were searched. In addition, relevant practice guidelines were searched using PubMed. All identified clinical literatures were reviewed and summarized in a narrative manner.
RESULTS
Treatment options, such as a combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic versus an antidepressant or an antipsychotic alone are summarized. In addition, issues regarding the electroconvulsive therapy(ECT), combination therapy, and maintenance treatment are discussed.
CONCLUSION
In former times, the combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic or ECT were recommended as the first line treatment for depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. Recently, however, there was a suggestion that there was no conclusive evidence that the combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic drug is more effective than an antidepressant alone. More evidence regarding the pharmacological treatment for depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms is needed.

Keyword

Psychotic depression; reatment strategy

MeSH Terms

Biomarkers
Depression*
Depressive Disorder