Atypical and non-atypical subtypes of depression: comparison of social functioning, symptoms, course of illness, co-morbidity and demographic features

Background: There are scant data regarding the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of outpatients with Atypical Depression (AD). Methods: The demographic characteristics, rates of chronic dysphoria, baseline Symptom Check List Revised, and Social Adjustment Scale scores of 320 moderately depressed patients with and without AD were compared. Results: ADs had a higher number of self-reported symptoms, greater impairments in functioning, and higher rates of chronic dysphoria and bipolar II than patients without Atypical Depression (NAD). Limitations: Variables used in this study were mostly cross-sectional, and the analyses were performed post-hoc. Conclusions: These data suggest ADs had a more pernicious course of illness than NADs, and that patients with AD were more symptomatic and dysfunctional at admission.