What causes atypical depression

Kevin Mangelschots·22/07/2025·0 comments

Like most mood disorders, atypical depression is believed to be caused by a mix of:

  • Genetic vulnerability.
  • Neurochemical imbalances (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine).
  • Hormonal dysfunction (especially the HPA axis).
  • Environmental factors like childhood trauma, chronic stress, or interpersonal issues.

One notable theory is that people with atypical depression may have blunted dopamine activity, which could explain the excessive sleep, increased appetite (particularly for carbs), and mood reactivity.

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Kevin

Hi there, I’m Kevin Mangelschots! A little more about myself: - I'm 33 years old. - I’m a registered, licensed, and practicing therapist with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. - Currently practicing at a rehabilitation center located in Belgium. Longtime fitness and gaming enthusiast. - Turned towards psychology, philosophy, mental health, and self-improvement to improve my chronic depression. - My goal is to share evidence-based information with the world that I know is helpful and useful to improve depression and overall well-being. In short, I’m just a guy trying to make sense of the world by thinking about ideas, studying psychology, philosophy, and mental and physical health. I strive to apply my degree in healthcare (occupational therapy) to explain concepts as clearly as possible, based on current research findings.

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