Atypical Depression

Characterized by increased sleep and appetite with carbohydrate craving, Atypical Depression is the most common among patients with MDI. Decreased energy, impaired concentration and low sexual drive are prominent features. The increased emotional reactivity and the preferential response to some antidepressants (MAOI) point to MDI as the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Growing evidence about the differences between the depressive phase of MDI and other forms of depression have been collected in research studies. Parker documented the differences between forms of Depression among patients with or without MDI. The presence of psychomotor retardation, melancholic and psychotic features are consistently more common in MDI than in other forms of depression.

Loss of interest, anhedonia, guilt, hallucinations, non-reactivity, and variability of mood were all statistically differentiating traits.

Neurobiological differences include abnormalities in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis both during an acute episode of depression and after its remission.