Atypical depression is more common than the name suggests.
Despite being called “atypical,” it’s one of the most prevalent subtypes of major depressive disorder.
- In the general population (not just those diagnosed with depression), lifetime prevalence of atypical depression is estimated at around 1% to 3%, though this depends on the study methodology.
- It’s more common in women, with some studies showing a 2–3x higher rate in women compared to men.
While it sounds rare, atypical depression is quite common, mainly among younger adults, women, and people with co-existing anxiety.
It’s just often underdiagnosed or mislabeled as general depression or another mood disorder.
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