title: Depression with atypical features in various kinds of affective disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of atypical symptoms in various types of depressive disorders, using the author's questionnaire for symptoms of atypical depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 70 patients with a diagnosis of depressive episode in the course of recurrent depression, 54 patients with a diagnosis of depressive episode in bipolar disorder (BD) and 58 patients with a diagnosis of dysthymia. To assess the severity of atypical symptoms, the special questionnaire has been elaborated. In each diagnostic group, half of patients had normal body weight, and half were overweight or obese (BMI > 25).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with various types of depression did not differ significantly in terms of clinical and demographic factors. Symptoms of atypical depression such as increased appetite, weight gain and leaden paralysis were more common in women. Patients with bipolar depression had significantly increased symptoms such as hypersomnia (compared with dysthymia), and leaden paralysis (vs. recurrent depression and dysthymia). In overweight and obese patients, the severity of atypical symptoms correlated with body mass index and intensity of depression score on the 17-items Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. In this group, all symptoms of atypical depression were significantly more intense in patients with depression in the course of bipolar disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate higher prevalence of symptoms of atypical depression in bipolar disorder compared with recurrent depression and dysthymia. They also suggest the interdependency between the symptoms of atypical depression, bipolar disorder and obesity.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buzuk
authors.affiliation: Klinika Psychiatrii Dorosłych UM w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Łojko
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Endokrynologii, Przemiany Materii i Chorób Wewnętrznych UM w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owecki
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Endokrynologii, Przemiany Materii i Chorób Wewnętrznych UM w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruchała
authors.affiliation: Klinika Psychiatrii Dorosłych UM w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybakowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: atypical depression; bipolar depression; unipolar depression