Types of courses and stability of themes in delusional unipolar depression

This study wants to contribute to the discrimination of delusional depression. By means of evaluation of 23 well documented cases four different types of course can be discriminated. One type is identified by a course of nondelusional beginning over predelusional to delusional episodes. Another type shows delusional episodes throughout. The third type presents with a delusional onset followed by nondelusional episodes and the fourth type with a syndromshift into bath directions. The first two types have a clear majority over the third and the fourth type. Continuity of delusional experience in depressive episodes is connected with a stability of themes.