Side-by-side review

Compare two specifiers

Find the deciding clinical difference.

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Is the central pattern “reactive mood with a characteristic symptom pattern” or “anxious arousal occurring within a mood episode”?

Atypical features

Mood reactivity occurs with a characteristic reversed-vegetative or interpersonal sensitivity pattern.

Episode features

Anxious distress

Prominent tension, restlessness, worry, or fear accompanies the current mood episode.

Episode features

Clinical focus

AReactive mood with a characteristic symptom pattern

BAnxious arousal occurring within a mood episode

Time course

APresent through much of the depressive episode

BTracks the current depressive or manic-spectrum episode

Look for

AMood reactivity, hypersomnia, increased appetite, leaden feeling, rejection sensitivity

BTension, restlessness, worry, dread, fear of losing control

Do not overcall from

AThe label does not simply mean an unusual presentation

BDo not infer it from insomnia or agitation alone

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, with atypical features

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Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, with anxious distress

Open full guide

Browse the map Build diagnostic wording

Side-by-side review

Compare two specifiers

Find the deciding clinical difference.

Ask this

Is the central pattern “reactive mood with a characteristic symptom pattern” or “anxious arousal occurring within a mood episode”?

Atypical features

Mood reactivity occurs with a characteristic reversed-vegetative or interpersonal sensitivity pattern.

Episode features

Anxious distress

Prominent tension, restlessness, worry, or fear accompanies the current mood episode.

Episode features

Clinical focus

AReactive mood with a characteristic symptom pattern

BAnxious arousal occurring within a mood episode

Time course

APresent through much of the depressive episode

BTracks the current depressive or manic-spectrum episode

Look for

AMood reactivity, hypersomnia, increased appetite, leaden feeling, rejection sensitivity

BTension, restlessness, worry, dread, fear of losing control

Do not overcall from

AThe label does not simply mean an unusual presentation

BDo not infer it from insomnia or agitation alone

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, with atypical features

Open full guide

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, with anxious distress

Open full guide

Browse the map Build diagnostic wording