Atypical depression: symptoms, causes and treatments

This type of depression presents symptoms that are rarely associated with depressive disorders.

Atypical depression is a type of depression that shows the complexity of this group of mental disorders. It shows that what we popularly call "being depressed" is a complex psychological phenomenon that can be expressed under a wide variety of symptoms that can be classified in different ways.

Next we will see which are the symptoms of atypical depression, what characteristics differentiate it from other types of depression, and what kinds of treatments have been and what kind of treatments have been shown to be effective to intervene in these cases.

What is atypical depression?

Atypical depression is a depressive disorder that, despite presenting many of the characteristics of major depression, also expresses other atypical and rare symptoms in this kind of psychopathological disorder..

For example, although the main symptoms of this group of disorders are present in atypical depression, such as sadness or anhedonia and abulia, other signs and symptoms also appear, such as an exaggerated reaction to events perceived as negative, an extreme increase in sleep and the need to sleep, etc.

Generally speaking, atypical depression is considered not very prevalent, i.e. rare and rarely diagnosed.. Most cases of depression receive another diagnosis.

Symptoms of atypical depression

The symptoms of atypical depression can be quite varied, especially considering how infrequently it is diagnosed. Among the signs and symptoms most related to this type of depression are the following.

1. Hypersomnia

The person feels a deep need to sleep, which causes psychosocial and work-related problems, as it interferes with work.It interferes with the person's work. This also produces greater isolation, and has a negative impact on the possibility of developing motivating projects.

In the end, the problems to organize a schedule, as well as the lack of social life that is a consequence of hypersomnia, make the daily life of the person with atypical depression become increasingly monotonous, lacking in novel stimuli.

2. Hypersensitivity

Many people with atypical depression feel that any sign means that a negative situation is happening for them. a negative situation is occurring for them. For example, an ambiguous reaction from another person is interpreted as a sign of rejection or mockery, or a relative failure, such as not arriving on time for a bus that has already started, is seen as a sign that the day will be catastrophic.

However, this reactivity also tends to appear in the face of positive events, although to a lesser degreeHowever, this reactivity also tends to appear in the face of positive events, although to a lesser degree than that expressed in the face of unpleasant situations. This ability to react relatively cheerfully to positive situations is something that does not occur in most cases of depression, and is one of the distinguishing characteristics of atypical depression.

3. Extreme increase in appetite

In major depression it is typical for patients to experience a significant decrease in the sense of hunger, coupled with a general attitude of passivity and lack of initiative.

In atypical depression, however, hyperphagia is relatively common, hyperphagia is relatively frequentThis is closely associated with psychological states marked by excessive anxiety. Therefore, binge eating and frequent visits to the refrigerator may appear as a form of compensatory behavior, to distract from those thoughts that generate anxiety.

4. Extreme tiredness

Many of the patients with this type of depression feel a dejection that leads them to remain for a long time in a state of rest in a bed or sofa. This, at the same time, contributes to a feeling of isolation and loneliness, which feeds the cycle of depression.This, in turn, contributes to feeling more isolated and lonely, which feeds the vicious circle of depression. Lack of energy is expressed in all facets of life, from work to social life to taking care of the basic needs of food, hygiene and home care.

5. Anxious states

This is a group of symptoms related to states of anxiety typical of other mental disorders and which, in the case of depressive disorders, are much less common. For example, the person with atypical depression may feel anxious when aware of his or her poor state, or may worry a great deal about the image he or she is giving to others. This feeling of discomfort adds to the damage to the quality of life produced by the symptoms typically associated with depression.

Its causes

As is the case with most mental disorders, the reason for the appearance of atypical depression has to do with multi-causal phenomena. This means that Biological and genetic elements are involved in its existence, but also cultural and, in addition, factors associated with the learned dynamics of interaction with the environment and with other people.

For example, a traumatic event can trigger genetically latent biological processes, and the way in which this experience is lived will be influenced by the culture that has been internalized and by learning and customs. Neither the environment nor genetics are solely responsible for atypical depression.

Treatments

Psychotherapeutic intervention is very important in the treatment of atypical depression, as it allows patients to be trained in a large number of habits and social skills that will enable them to improve their quality of life (without making the symptoms disappear completely).

Specifically, cognitive behavioral therapies can act both on daily behavioral habits and on ideas, beliefs and thinking styles, to achieve effects both on actions related to movement and interaction with the environment and on the mind and the way in which it perceives and interprets what is happening.

As for treatment with psychotropic drugs, this is also frequent in medical intervention in cases of atypical depression, especially considering the severity of this disorder and the way in which it affects practically all areas of personal and work life.

The most commonly used medications are usually antidepressantssuch as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Both are drugs whose use can only be initiated by medical prescription, and their use must be monitored by experts in mental health and psychiatry.