Outpatients with DSM-III-R versus DSM-IV melancholic depression

B Lafer; A A Nierenberg; J F Rosenbaum; M Fava

doi:10.1016/s0010-440x(96)90048-6

Outpatients with DSM-III-R versus DSM-IV melancholic depression

Compr Psychiatry. 1996 Jan-Feb;37(1):37-9. doi: 10.1016/s0010-440x(96)90048-6.

Authors

B Lafer¹, A A Nierenberg, J F Rosenbaum, M Fava

Affiliation

¹ Depression Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.

PMID: 8770524
DOI: 10.1016/s0010-440x(96)90048-6

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare outpatients who met DSM-III-R versus DSM-IV criteria for melancholia. Of 176 consecutive outpatients with unipolar depression, 40 (22.7%) met DSM-III-R criteria and 29 (16.5%) met DSM-IV criteria for melancholia. Patients with DSM-IV melancholia had higher mean scores on measurements of clinical severity as compared with those who qualified for a DSM-III-R diagnosis. These results suggest that the criteria for melancholia proposed in the DSM-IV are more restrictive and define a more severely depressed population than criteria in the DSM-III-R.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Ambulatory Care
Depressive Disorder / classification
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder / psychology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data*
Psychometrics