Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
40970113
TITLE
Atypical depression is associated with a distinct clinical, neurobiological, treatment response and polygenic risk profile.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND NlmCategory: UNASSIGNED
Atypical depression is considered a distinct clinical subtype of major depression, yet its predictive validity and clinical utility remain contested. We investigated association between atypical depression and clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and antidepressant responses.
METHODS NlmCategory: UNASSIGNED
Atypical depression is considered a distinct clinical subtype of major depression, yet its predictive validity and clinical utility remain contested. We investigated association between atypical depression and clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and antidepressant responses. Among 14,897 participants from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study (75% female; mean age 43.7 years), 3,098 (21%) were classified phenotypically as having "atypical depression" based on self-reported weight gain and hypersomnia during their worst depressive episode. Demographics and clinical features were compared. Bonferroni-corrected regression models assessed associations between atypical depression and polygenic scores (PGS) for mental disorders, metabolic-inflammatory-circadian traits, and self-reported antidepressant response and side effects.
RESULTS NlmCategory: UNASSIGNED
Atypical depression is considered a distinct clinical subtype of major depression, yet its predictive validity and clinical utility remain contested. We investigated association between atypical depression and clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and antidepressant responses. Among 14,897 participants from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study (75% female; mean age 43.7 years), 3,098 (21%) were classified phenotypically as having "atypical depression" based on self-reported weight gain and hypersomnia during their worst depressive episode. Demographics and clinical features were compared. Bonferroni-corrected regression models assessed associations between atypical depression and polygenic scores (PGS) for mental disorders, metabolic-inflammatory-circadian traits, and self-reported antidepressant response and side effects. Atypical depression cases had an earlier age of onset, greater illness severity, stronger eveningness and reduced daylight exposure. Atypical depression cases had higher PGS for major depressive disorder (odds ratio [OR]=1.10 [95%CI: 1.06-1.15]), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (OR=1.08 [1.04-1.13]), bipolar disorder (OR= 1.07 [1.02-1.12]), neuroticism (OR=1.07 [1.02-1.12]), BMI (OR=1.35 [1.29-1.42]), Type 2 diabetes (OR=1.22 [1.16-1.28]), C-reactive protein (OR=1.12 [1.07-1.17]), and insulin resistance (OR=1.11 [1.06-1.16]) but lower PGS for HDL cholesterol (OR=0.91 [0.87-0.95]) and chronotype (indicating eveningness; OR=0.94 [0.90-0.98]). Atypical depression was associated with poorer efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (OR=0.88 [0.81-0.96]) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (OR=0.85 [0.77-0.94]), along with more side effects, particularly weight gain (OR=2.89 [2.66-3.15]).
CONCLUSIONS NlmCategory: UNASSIGNED
Atypical depression is considered a distinct clinical subtype of major depression, yet its predictive validity and clinical utility remain contested. We investigated association between atypical depression and clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and antidepressant responses. Among 14,897 participants from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study (75% female; mean age 43.7 years), 3,098 (21%) were classified phenotypically as having "atypical depression" based on self-reported weight gain and hypersomnia during their worst depressive episode. Demographics and clinical features were compared. Bonferroni-corrected regression models assessed associations between atypical depression and polygenic scores (PGS) for mental disorders, metabolic-inflammatory-circadian traits, and self-reported antidepressant response and side effects. Atypical depression cases had an earlier age of onset, greater illness severity, stronger eveningness and reduced daylight exposure. Atypical depression cases had higher PGS for major depressive disorder (odds ratio [OR]=1.10 [95%CI: 1.06-1.15]), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (OR=1.08 [1.04-1.13]), bipolar disorder (OR= 1.07 [1.02-1.12]), neuroticism (OR=1.07 [1.02-1.12]), BMI (OR=1.35 [1.29-1.42]), Type 2 diabetes (OR=1.22 [1.16-1.28]), C-reactive protein (OR=1.12 [1.07-1.17]), and insulin resistance (OR=1.11 [1.06-1.16]) but lower PGS for HDL cholesterol (OR=0.91 [0.87-0.95]) and chronotype (indicating eveningness; OR=0.94 [0.90-0.98]). Atypical depression was associated with poorer efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (OR=0.88 [0.81-0.96]) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (OR=0.85 [0.77-0.94]), along with more side effects, particularly weight gain (OR=2.89 [2.66-3.15]). This large genetically-informative study supports the neurobiological and clinical validity of atypical depression, demonstrating distinct clinical and genetic risk profiles alongside differential antidepressant responses. These support utilizing the atypical subtype to guide treatment selection and physical health management.
DATE PUBLISHED
2025 Aug 07
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
medline 2025/09/19 06:33
pubmed 2025/09/19 06:32
entrez 2025/09/19 05:10
pmc-release 2025/09/17
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Shin M Shin Mirim M
Crouse JJ Crouse Jacob J JJ
Lin T Lin Tian T
Byrne EM Byrne Enda M EM
Mitchell BL Mitchell Brittany L BL
Lind PA Lind Penelope A PA
Parker R Parker Richard R
Mckenna S Mckenna Sarah S
Tonini E Tonini Emiliana E
Carpenter JS Carpenter Joanne S JS
Merikangas KR Merikangas Kathleen R KR
Wray NR Wray Naomi R NR
Medland SE Medland Sarah E SE
Martin NG Martin Nicholas G NG
Hickie IB Hickie Ian B IB
INVESTIGATORS
JOURNAL
VOLUME:
ISSUE:
TITLE: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
ISOABBREVIATION: medRxiv
YEAR: 2025
MONTH: Aug
DAY: 07
MEDLINEDATE:
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Internet
ISSN:
ISSNTYPE:
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: medRxiv
COUNTRY: United States
ISSNLINKING:
NLMUNIQUEID: 101767986
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
Preprint
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