Psychotic bipolar depression was compared with nonpsychotic bipolar depression. Psychotic (n = 59) and nonpsychotic (n = 176) bipolar depressed outpatients were SCID-DSM-IV interviewed. Psychotic bipolar depression had significantly higher severity, more chronicity, fewer atypical features and axis I co-morbidity, more bipolar I, and fewer bipolar II patients. Age at onset, duration of illness, gender, and recurrences, were not significantly different.