Cn. Derecho et al., ATYPICAL DEPRESSION AMONG PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS - CLINICAL-FEATURES AND PERSONALITY-TRAITS, Journal of affective disorders, 39(1), 1996, pp. 55-59
Objective: This study investigates the frequency and characteristics o
f Atypical Depression (AD) among depressed inpatients. Method: Twenty-
one depressed inpatients received DSM-IV diagnoses, were rated on the
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and assessed for AD using the
Atypical Depressive Disorder Scale. AD was defined as the presence of
mood reactivity and two of four associated features: hyperphagia, hyp
ersomnia, leaden paralysis, rejection sensitivity. Mood reactivity was
defined as the ability to reach 50% of a non-depressed mood. All subj
ects completed the SCL-90, MCMI-II, and a suicide survey. Results: Sev
en patients (33%) met criteria for AD. AD and non-AD patients did not
differ in. terms of severity of depression, history of suicide attempt
s, levels of clinical symptomatology, age of onset of depression, prio
r hospitalizations, and most personality characteristics. However, AD
patients scored significantly higher than non-AD patients on the SCL-9
0 Interpersonal Sensitivity and MCMI-II Avoidant scales, and were mere
ly likely to be single. Conclusion: AD is fairly prevalent on an inpat
ient service, comparable to the frequency found in outpatient settings
. AD is not a milder form of depression. The only differences between
AD and non-AD patients reflect the personality trait of rejection sens
itivity which is a defining feature of AD.