title: Epidemiology of major depression with atypical features: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine prevalence, correlates, comorbidity and treatment-seeking among individuals with a lifetime major depressive episode (MDE) with and without atypical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a large cross-sectional survey of a representative sample (N = 43,093) of the US population that assessed psychiatric disorders using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV Version (AUDADIS-IV). Comparison groups were defined based on the presence or absence of hypersomnia or hyperphagia in individuals who met criteria for lifetime DSM-IV MDE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of atypical features during an MDE was associated with greater rates of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, including alcohol abuse, drug dependence, dysthymia, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and any personality disorder (all P values < .05), except antisocial personality disorder, than MDE without atypical features. Compared with the latter group, MDE with atypical features was associated with female gender, younger age at onset, more MDEs, greater episode severity and disability, higher rates of family history of depression, bipolar I disorder, suicide attempts, and larger mental health treatment-seeking rates (all P values < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide further evidence for the clinical significance and validity of this depressive specifier. Based on the presence of any of the 2 reversed vegetative symptoms during an MDE, most of the commonly cited validators of atypical depression were confirmed in our study. Major depressive episode with atypical features may be more common, severe, and impairing than previously documented.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute/Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vesga-López
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Shang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bridget F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hasin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States