Dysfunctional cognitions and atypical features in mood-reactive depression

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between dysfunctional cognitions, atypicality, and several other variables in a sample of 95 depressed subjects who met New York State Psychiatric Institute criteria for mood reactivity. Subjects also fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for either major depression or dysthymia. Findings indicated that: (1) Patients with higher levels of dysfunctional cognitions were characterized by more severe depressions, and had an earlier onset of dysphoria. (2) Patients who fulfilled criteria for atypical depression had an earlier onset of dysphoria. In addition, they were more likely to have a superimposed episode of major depression on their illness. (3) Atypical patients tended, on the whole, to score higher on measures of dysfunctional cognitions. The implications of these findings are discussed.