Melancholic features are associated with a person experiencing a specific precursor to the illness and having a better response to antidepressants. Men and women may equally have these features, although they are more common in older people. They may also be more likely to occur in more severe depressive episodes, particularly ones with psychotic features. The sensitivity to rejection tends to be a more long-standing problem. The presence of depression may increase the sensitivity, although it is often still present when the person is not depressed.
Atypical features occur two to three times more often in women.
Personality and anxiety disorders may also be more common. Describes a long-term course of recurrent major depression or bipolar disorder. Describes a pattern of depressive episodes in recurrent major depression or bipolar disorder. Describes a recurrent pattern of depressive and manic episodes in bipolar disorder. A person has had at least four mood episodes during the last 12 months.