Objective To analyze and explore the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of antipsychotics（ ATP） augmentation for the treatment of severe major depression. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted among 472 patients with severe major depression who were admitted to Beijing Anding Hospital between December 2013 and November 2016. The data were concerned the demography and clinical characteristics to compare the differences between ATP augmentation group and non- ATP group. Results The proportion of ATP augmentation was 56.3%（ 266/472）， of which 99.2%（ 264/266） patients received atypical antipsychotics augmentation treatment， and the most common used antipsychotic were quetiapine， olanzapine and aripiprazole. Compared to non-ATP group， the characteristics of ATP augmentation group were younger［ （43 vs 50） years old； Z=-2.908，P＜0.01］， with earlier illness onset age［ （38.9±13.4） vs （35.4±13.0）years old；t=-2.822，P＜0.01］， more single（ 15.0% vs 26.7%；χ2=9.290， P＜0.01）， with higher psychotic symptoms rates（ 3.9% vs 29.7%；χ2=51.461，P＜ 0.01）， and with more mood stabilizers use（ 4.4% vs 11.3%；χ2=7.311，P ＜ 0.01）， more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors（ SSRIs） use（ 55.8% vs 68.8%； χ2=8.393， P ＜ 0.01）， as well as longer hospitalization days［（26 vs 28） d；Z=-3.635，P ＜ 0.01）］. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that psychotic symptoms（ OR=10.682，95%CI=4.948-23.064，P＜0.01）， mood stabilizers use（ OR=3.054， 95%CI=1.356-6.881，P＜0.01）， and no spouse（ OR=0.545， 95%CI=0.305-0.972， P＜ 0.05） were the influencing factors of ATP augmentation. Conclusions Clinical psychiatrists trend to choose antipsychotic augmentation for the treatment of hospitalized depressive patients with the characteristics of with psychotic symptoms， current mood stabilizer use and no spouse. Those patients with ATP augmentation need longer hospitalization days， with heavier burden of disease.