ABSTRACT
Se examinó la prevalencia de experiencias atípicas psicóticas y cuasi-psicóticas y se identificaron factores asociados a éstas en 162 jóvenes puertorriqueños/as entre 13 y 17.5 años. Se evaluó la sintomatología depresiva, la ideación suicida, así como la presencia o historia de experiencias atípicas, eventos traumáticos y maltrato o abuso. Las experiencias atípicas estuvieron asociadas a ser fémina, a tener enfermedades físicas, a experimentar eventos traumáticos, a haber recibido tratamiento para la depresión, y a una sintomatología depresiva e ideación suicida elevada. Los eventos traumáticos, el tratamiento farmacológico para la depresión y la severidad de la ideación suicida fueron predictores significativos del número de experiencias reportadas. Los resultados confirman que la mayoría de las experiencias no son psicóticas. Se discuten las implicaciones para la evaluación y el tratamiento de jóvenes deprimidos/as.(AU)
The prevalence of psychotic and quasi-psychotic atypical experiences was estimated and its correlates were identified in 162 Puerto Rican adolescents (13 to 17.5 years old). Depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, as well as the presence or history of atypical experiences, traumatic events and maltreatment or abuse were evaluated. Atypical experiences were related to gender (female), physical illness, history of traumatic events, history of treatment for depression, as well as to high depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation. Traumatic events, pharmacological treatment for depression, and severity of suicidal ideation were significant predictors of the total experiences reported. Findings confirm that most experiences reported were definitely non-psychotic. The implications for the assessment and treatment of depressed youth are discussed.(AU)
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of psychotic and quasi-psychotic atypical experiences was estimated and its correlates were identified in 162 Puerto Rican adolescents (13 to 17.5 years old). Depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, as well as the presence or history of atypical experiences, traumatic events and maltreatment or abuse were evaluated. Atypical experiences were related (p<.05) to gender (female), physical illness, history of traumatic events, history of treatment for depression, as well as to high depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation. Traumatic events, pharmacological treatment for depression, and severity of suicidal ideation were significant predictors of the total experiences reported. Findings confirm that most experiences reported were definitely non-psychotic. The implications for the assessment and treatment of depressed youth are discussed.
ABSTRACT
The author describes a patient with recurrent depression, according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The features were of a delusional depressive episode lasting 5 years, associated with severe impairment of psychosocial functioning. The patient also had chronic hepatitis, of unknown aetiology, and portal hypertension with some high gastrointestinal bleeding episodes. The depressive episode had been treated unsuccessfully with therapeutic doses of imipramine and lithium augmentation associated with haloperidol and, afterwards, with risperidone. Mirtazapine was introduced, coadministered with haloperidol and after 8 weeks there was an improvement in delusional depressive and other negative symptoms. The patient remained well for 9 months. This case indicates that mirtazapine is an option for patients with psychotic depression who are refractive to tricyclic antidepressants. Mirtazapine is also a safe drug, well tolerated in this severe clinical condition.