ECT response in delusional versus non-delusional depressed inpatients.

Background: ECT is often considered more effective in delusional than in non-delusional depressives, although the literature does not support this view.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 55 consecutive inpatients with major depression according to the DSM-III-R criteria and distinguished two subtypes: patients with delusions and those without. We examined whether the deluded patients showed a higher response rate.