Posted by Ilene on March 12, 2003, at 18:02:12
In reply to Re: need for atypical depression research, posted by Shawn. T. on March 12, 2003, at 15:50:07
> Hok -- The data that I've gathered seems to show that from 22 to 38% of outpatients with depression suffer from atypical depression. Nonetheless, I personally find it shocking how little research on atypical depression is available. Perhaps one problem that currently exists is that not everyone agrees about what symptoms are associated with atypical depression. Benazzi's recent work seems to suggest that the defining characteristics of people with atypical depression are two reversed vegetative symptoms (oversleeping and overeating). The DSM-IV criteria are mood reactivity, hypersomnia, hyperphagia, leaden paralysis, and rejection sensitivity. However, Akiskal's recent work seems to show that mood reactivity and rejection sensitivity are characteristics of people with cyclothymia/bipolar II and atypical depression; some of Benazzi's work supports this concept.
Strange. I read that atypical depression was more common than melancholic.
I've read some on problems of diagnosis. The symptoms are so subjective! Hard to make a differential diagnosis.
One thing that interests me is that the existence of mental disorders in the family is significant, even if they are neither depression nor bipolar disorder. There is cluster of both "mental" and "physical" disorders (as if your head were somehow disconnected from the rest of you) that occur in the family tree.
>
> Apparently, chromium picolinate may help to relieve the symptoms of atypical depression in some people; however, the study was small, so it will need to be verified. 7/15 people responded to the treatment; that's not bad at all for a supplement.
>That is a *really* small study. When you read about meta-analyses (is that the right word? I have problems w/ word finding) you find out how unrigorous these things can be. The more depression research I read, the more skeptical I become. E.g, what is the criterion for response? How long did the response last? Were the patients treatment-naive? How severe was their depression? Blah blah blah blah
--I.
poster:Ilene
thread:207835
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208504.html