What are the symptoms of atypical depression?

Atypical depression is characterized by symptoms which sound unusual for a depressive disorder, hence the name.  Those suffering from atypical depression sleep more and eat more, just the opposite of what ‘typical' depressives experience.  Someone with atypical depression may be able to enjoy some particular circumstances where as a classically depressed individual suffers from pervasive distress.  With respect to older treatments, atypical depression responds well to MAO inhibitors and not as well to tricyclics. If you are suffering from these symptoms and have put off going to the doctor because your symptoms differ from those you have seen for clinical depression, think again.  Your doctor should be able to help.

It seems like little is known about atypical depression.  What do we know about those who, like myself, suffer from this illness?

Within each Mood Disorder category there is much variation from patient to patient. It has not been established if atypical depression is one of several forms of depression an individual may express over the course of their illness or an actual subtype different from other forms of depression.  As many as forty-five percent of depressed outpatients may suffer from atypical depression.  Most studies show that people suffering from atypical depression have their first episode earlier in life than other depression sufferers.  It also appears that their episodes are shorter and more frequent.  Moreover, sufferers of atypical depression may have an increased rate of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, passive aggressive personality disorders and Body Dismorphic Disorder. One study suggests those suffering from Social Phobia and Avoidant Personality Disorder comorbidly may be at particularly high risk for atypical depression.

Recent research looking into the endocrinology of depression indicated that the two principal chemicals which affect our physical stress response are under active in atypical depression while they are over active in major depression with melancholic features.  This suggests that atypical depression may be associated with different long term biological effects on sufferers.  Obviously, more research is needed to understand this.