I've been diagnosed with this after my new pdoc took my symptoms seriously whereas my previous pdoc thought I was attention-seeking.

I have heard voices, both in my head and what I would swear was outside my head like another person talking to me. There were 2 voices, a man and a woman, whether in my head or outside it, and they were very critical of me and what I was doing at the time. Though I knew these 'voices' weren't me, I am aware that no1 else can hear them and that it is all in my head. That seems to be the key thing with psychotic depression in that mostly you have insight, unlike eg schizophrenia. I know my voices aren't real, but I still hear them.

I also experience delusions which is harder for me to deal with. At least with the voices, I can see that no1 else has reacted and so obviously can't hear what I can hear. But the delusions seem soooo logical to me and go round and round in circles in my head, gathering more evidence. Even other people discrediting them doesn't help. In one sense I know I'm being silly (I have insight) and eg my brain can't really be rotting away, but then I also must believe it otherwise I wouldn't spend all my time worrying about it...

What you may read Laualless about psychotic depression may freak you out, as it did me. But I can vouch for the fact that admitting these kind of symptoms does not automatically qualify you for the hospital and ECT!! I am being treated out-patient with a low dose antipsychotic in addition to my antidepressant, and am relatively functional (the voices are mostly gone now) as a full-time final year student on a very demanding course. It's not all doom & gloom!

I hope that, if you are experiencing symptoms, that you let your T and Pdoc know about them so that they can support you the best they can. Take care.

*Willow*