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Atypical depressive episode

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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An atypical depressive episode is a mood disorder in which some of the characteristic changes of typical depression are reversed.

Notable features of an atypical depressive episode include:

  • weight gain
  • increased appetite with carbohydrate craving
  • hypersomnia
  • reversed diurnal mood variation, being worse in the evening
  • in comparison with major depressive disorder without atypical features, patients with atypical features are more often female, have a younger age of onset and a more severe degree of psychomotor slowing

Note also that :

  • coexisting diagnoses of panic disorder, substance abuse and somatisation disorder are also common
  • atypical depression should be treated with an SSRI
  • referral to mental health specialists should be considered for patients with atypical depression and significant functional impairment who have not responded to an SSRI

For more detailed guidance then refer to full NICE guideline (1).

Reference:

  1. NICE (December 2004). Management of depression in primary and secondary care.

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