Abstract
Bipolar II depression with melancholic features has been understudied. The aims of the present study were to find the prevalence of melancholic features in bipolar II depression and in unipolar depression, and to compare melancholic with nonmelancholic bipolar 11/ unipolar depression in private practice. One hundred and sixty two consecutive unipolar and bipolar II depressed outpatients were interviewed with the DSM-IV Structured Clinical Interview, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Melancholic features were present in 19.2% of bipolar II patients and in 22.6% of unipolar patients, a nonsignificant difference. Melancholic bipolar II patients versus nonmelancholic bipolar II patients had significantly more psychosis and higher severity. All the other variables (age, age at onset, gender, illness duration, recurrences, atypical features, chronicity, comorbidity) were not significantly different. Melancholic bipolar II patients versus melancholic unipolar patients were not significantly different. Nonmelancholic bipolar II patients versus nonmelancholic unipolar patients had significantly lower age, lower age at onset, more atypical features, and more comorbidity. The prevalence of melancholic features in bipolar II depression in private practice was higher than previously reported in academic centers.
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