Article January 31, 2000

Treatment of Severe Depression

Michael E. Thase, MD

J Clin Psychiatry 2000;61(suppl 1):17-25

Article Abstract

A significant minority of depressed outpatients and a vast majority of those hospitalized for depressioncan be considered severely ill. Severe depressive states are quite heterogeneous and includethe more classical subforms (e.g., melancholia or psychotic depression) as well as various comorbidpresentations. This article reviews the classification, phenomenology, pathophysiology, and treatmentof severe depression.