Scientists are currently researching Mifeprex, also known as mifepristone, RU-486 or the "abortion pill," to see if the medication may be useful to treat a form of severe depression. A new report published in the journal Biological Psychiatry analyses a recent study that found Mifeprex to be highly effective in people suffering from psychotic depression, a disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusional beliefs.

Funded by Corcept Therapeutics, a small California pharmaceutical company, the study reveals that patients' side effects rapidly improved while using high doses of the abortion drug for one week. According to researchers, Mifeprex, in high doses, blocks the hormone cortisol, which is often found in elevated levels among patients with psychotic depression. Corcept is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval to market Mifeprex for psychotic depression. Two clinical trials of the drug are already in progress.