Two year follow-up of atypical depression

The symptom cluster of Atypical Depression (AD) has been characterized based on its presentation and selective response to pharmcological treatments, while relatively little is known about the outcome of these patients after treatment trials. The present study was undertaken to assess the long term outcome of 40 patients after a controlled treatment trial of fluoxetine vs phenelzine. Twenty five of these subjects were interviewed approximately two years after completion of the initial trial. They reported a high frequency of symptom recurrence, but generally little symptomatic or social impairment between episodes. Eighteen subjects were taking antidepressants at follow-up. A higher frequency of depressive episodes was recorded during the times when off antidepressant medications. Overall outcome was rated as moderate or good in the majority of subjects. These results suggest that AD presents from similarities with other subtypes of depression, with high rates of symptomatic recurrence and lasting response to chronic antidepressant treatment. Conversely, social functioning and overall outcome appear more favorable in AD.