title: Depressed older patients with the atypical features of interpersonal rejection sensitivity and reversed-vegetative symptoms are similar to younger atypical patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The atypical depression (AD) subtype has rarely been examined in older patients. However, younger AD patients have been characterized as having more severe and chronic symptoms of depression compared with non-AD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis by using analyses of variance and Growth Curve Modeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical Research Center for the study of depression in later life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depressed older patients (N = 248) followed over 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal study, we examined depression severity and chronicity in patients with major depression with some features of AD, specifically rejection sensitivity and reversed-vegetative symptoms (e.g., hyperphagia and hypersomnia), or leaden paralysis, and compared them to non-AD patients. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was used to assess depressive symptoms and history. Depression severity and chronicity were assessed every 3 months by using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AD symptom group reported more DIS depressive symptoms, more thoughts about wanting to die, earlier age of onset, poorer social support, and double the number of lifetime episodes than non-AD patients. Growth curve analyses revealed that, compared with non-AD patients, the AD symptom group had more residual symptoms of depression during the first year of follow-up but not during the second year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Characteristics of older patients with features of AD are similar to younger patients. Assessment of atypical symptoms, in particular, rejection sensitivity and reversed-vegetative symptoms, is essential and should be considered in treatment plans.
authors: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. sachs@psy.fsu.edu
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Sachs-Ericsson
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Selby
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Corsentino
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Collins
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Sawyer
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Hames
authors: Darleine
authors: D
authors: Arce
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Joiner
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Steffens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012944:Social Support