Antidepressants are commonly prescribed as the initial treatment option for depression. However, a recent study indicates that individuals with a certain illness profile are less likely to benefit from these medications and may experience adverse effects like additional weight gain.

The study highlights that those suffering from atypical depression exhibit a higher genetic predisposition to various mental and physical health issues, such as diabetes, and tend to respond poorly to antidepressant treatments.

One individual reported experiencing a combination of physical symptoms, including metabolic, sleep, and inflammatory issues, alongside her depression. These overlapping symptoms made it challenging to pinpoint the exact nature of her condition.

Despite being a standard approach, prescribing antidepressants as an initial treatment for depression may not be effective for everyone, especially for those with complex health profiles.

Antidepressants are routinely prescribed as a first-line treatment for depression. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“Even though I’ve worked in mental health for a long time, I didn’t recognise some of the things I was experiencing as depression,” Hutcheon said.

The study findings suggested biological processes, such as a dysregulated body clock, might be behind atypical depression, and showed the need for alternative treatments that targeted the circadian rhythm.