What is atypical depression?
Atypical depression is a subtype of depression with certain specific characteristics. A person with classic clinical depression has at least five, and possibly more, of the following symptoms or signs: • sadness • loss of energy • feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness • loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable • difficulty concentrating • uncontrollable crying • difficulty making decisions • irritability • increased need for sleep • insomnia or excessive sleep • unexplained aches and pains • stomachache and digestive problems • decreased sex drive • sexual problems • headache • a change in appetite that causes weight loss or gain • thoughts of death or suicide • attempting suicide In general, people with atypical depression don’t have as many of the symptoms that people with classical depression may have. They also tend to have first experienced depression at an early age, during their teenage years. Despite its name, atypical depression is probably rather common. Som
