Nosological Structure of Atypical Depression in Psychiatric Department

Abstract

The increase of depressive disorders and wide prevalence of atypical depression (AD) (DSM-IV criteria) are relevant problems in contemporary psychiatry.

Objective:

To assess prevalence and structure of AD in psychiatric inpatients.

Material and methods:

61 women and 20 men have been evaluated. Typical and atypical symptoms of depression have been estimated with SIGH-SAD (Williams J. et al., 1991). The main group (27.2%) consisted of 18 women and 4 men at the age of 48±9 years who had more than 7 points of atypical symptoms according to SIGH-SAD. The group without atypical symptoms (comparison group) included 43 women and 16 men at the age of 50.4±12 years.

Results:

In the main group, the ratio between men and women was 1:4.5 and in the comparison group it was 1:2.7. Dysthymia predominated in the main group. Among women, it was found in 55.6% of cases and among men, 25%. Recurrent depressive disorder was in 31.8% (men - 50%, women - 22.2%). Recurrent depressive disorder was predominant diagnosis (44.6%) in comparison group (45% - women, 43.8% - men). Dysthymia has been revealed in 8.9% of cases (10% - women, 6.25% - men) in comparison group. At admission the total average score according to SIGH-SAD was 30,5±5.5 in the main group.

Conclusion:

Results show that AD among psychiatric inpatients is found in 27.2% of cases. Dysthymia is a predominant variant of affective disorders and it dominates among women.