Posted by Shawn. T. on March 12, 2003, at 15:50:07
In reply to Re: need for atypical depression research » Shawn. T., posted by hok on March 12, 2003, at 12:12:59
Ilene-- thanks; yes I have poked around that site a bit.
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. If you want to read the abstracts, go to http://www.neurotransmitter.net/atypicaldepression.html ... note that I've included most available information except for several articles on drug research (e.g. clinical research on MAOI's). I did find an interesting article today while updating that page: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12559660&dopt=Abstract
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.
Anyway, I might throw up a plea on my website for more atypical depression research. Most visitors are academic types; occasionally I get hits from government types, so perhaps the message might cross some influential eyes.
Shawn
poster:Shawn. T.
thread:207835
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208474.html