Spontaneous motor activity measured by actigraphy and subjectively exp
erienced intensity of symptoms were investigated in 16 unipolar depres
sed inpatients with melancholic features. Patients felt significantly
less active, awake, and more depressed in the morning compared to the
evening. However, morning activity levels appeared significantly highe
r compared to evening levels. Diurnal variations of symptoms were refl
ected by actigraphically measured motor activity, which was negatively
correlated with subjectively experienced symptom intensity. Increased
motor activity may represent an observable, psychobiological, behavio
ral equivalent of self-experienced depressive symptoms in major depres
sion with melancholic features.