Atypical depression has one characteristic that makes it different from any other type of depression – mood reactivity. Patients with atypical depression show remarkable improvement when something positive happens in their life. However, this change lasts only for a couple of minutes.
When atypical depression is critical, or it takes the shape of melancholic depression, positive instances will not affect the mood. Additionally, for proper diagnosis it is critical to have at least one or two of the symptoms along with mood reactivity, which includes:
- Excessive sleeping or hypersomnia
- Eating excessively or hyperphagia
- Weight gain as a result of overeating
- Intense reaction to rejection and sensitivity
- Problems in their social life
- A sense of paralysis
Apart from these characteristics signs of atypical depression, patients might also experience some of the symptoms as mentioned below:
- Lack of interest in daily activities
- Depression and mood swings
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Lack of interest in sexual activities
- Increased appetite
- Pains and aches
- Changes in body weight and appetite
Doctors initially investigate the physical cause of the symptoms through routine blood tests for hormone levels and thyroid. There is a high probability of co-existence of various diseases with atypical depression. |
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