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Atypical Depression

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology

  • 151 Accesses

Synonyms

Rejection sensitivity; Reversed vegetative symptoms

Definition

A form of depression that is characterized by the presence of mood reactivity (responsiveness to positive events) and two or more of the following: significant weight gain or an increase in appetite, hypersomnia, leaden paralysis (heavy, leaden feelings in arms or legs), and significant social/occupational impairment resulting from a long-term pattern of sensitivity to interpersonal rejection. Exclusionary criteria include “with melancholic” or “with catatonic” features during the same depressive episode.

Role of Pharmacotherapy

Depressive disorders, both unipolar and bipolar, are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Given a relatively high prevalence rate in the general population, significant research to determine the etiology and pathophysiology of depressive disorders is key to identifying improved treatment and clinical outcomes.

DSM-5 described criteria for depressive disorders have not changed...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, 1E6.13 WC Mackenzie Hlth Sci Ctr, T6G 2R7, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Jorge Perez-Parada

Authors
  1. Jorge Perez-Parada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jorge Perez-Parada .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Behavioural Pharmacology, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry P049, London, United Kingdom

    Ian P. Stolerman

  2. Brown Medical School, Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Lawrence H. Price

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Perez-Parada, J. (2014). Atypical Depression. In: Stolerman, I., Price, L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27772-6_7041-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27772-6_7041-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27772-6

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