People with atypical depression experience mood reactivity.
In other words, a person’s mood can temporarily improve if something positive happens.
Symptoms include low mood, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and short-lived improvements in mood when positive events occur.
Verywell / Alison Czinkota
Effective treatments are available, which may include SSRIs, MAOIs, and psychotherapy.
The reasons some people experience atypical depression are not known.
Brain chemistry, including problems with the functioning of neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter receptors, may play a role.
However, research suggests that serotonin imbalances are not the primary cause of depression.
Other factors that can raise your risk for atypical depression include:
How Is Atypical Depression Diagnosed?
Making a correct diagnosis is a critical step in getting treatment.
MDD with atypical symptoms also has an early onset age and is typically diagnosed in the teenage years.
However, some research indicates that patients with atypical depression respond better tomonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs).
Wellbutrin (bupropion)is another medication used to treat atypical depression.
It’s often prescribed along with other antidepressants to help counter the sexual side effects of those medications.
These skills can be particularly helpful as you wait forantidepressant medication to begin working.
Beyond that, lifestyle modifications can help ease the symptoms and help you cope.
Aim to exercise five days a week for 3060 minutes a day.
Find Effective Relaxation Techniques
Practice mindfulness meditation and deep breathing.
Deep-breathing exercises combined withmindfulness meditationcan teach you to be aware of your thoughts and feelings without reacting to them.
Seek Support
Developingstrong social supportis important.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Not alltypes of depressionare alike, nor do they respond to the same medications.
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
- doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
Singh T, Williams K.Atypical depression.Psychiatry (Edgmont).
2006;3(4):33-39.
2015;351:h6019.
2000;157(3):344-50. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.157.3.344
Nelson E, McElroy S.Atypical depression puzzled?
How to piece together symptoms and treatments.
2003 April;2(4):12-19.
Singh, T. and Williams, K.Atypical depression.Psychiatry.2006 Apr;3(4):33-9.