Psychotic depression is a psychiatric syndrome characterized by pychomotor disturbance, depressive ruminations, perplexity, cognitive dysfunction and mood-congruent delusions. Severe suffering led by the delusional state, as well as other features of the illness such as impaired reality testing and impulse control, lack of cognitive flexibility and judgement are likely to contribute to crimes associated with this syndrome. As compared to other psychotic states, psychotic depression is less frequently subject to criminal proceedings, and forensic psychiatric experience in these cases is relatively limited. This review will focus on criminal aspects of psychotic depression.
Key words: Psychotic depression, mood disorders, forensic psychiatry, homicide.
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