This presentation by Brenda Penninx, The Netherlands, was recorded on 21 January 2025 at the ECNP Roadmap Meeting on Precision Psychiatry in Frankfurt, Germany.
This talk explores the heterogeneity of depression, focusing on two distinct subtypes—atypical and typical depression—identified through symptom clustering. Atypical depression, also known as immuno-metabolic depression, is a distinct subtype characterized by obesity, metabolic dysregulation, and elevated inflammation. Genetic and biomarker analyses confirm its biological basis, differentiating it from typical depression. Affected individuals show poor responses to antidepressants but may benefit from anti-inflammatory treatments and lifestyle interventions. This emphasizes the need for precision psychiatry, advocating for harmonized assessments and collaborative research to refine treatment strategies. Understanding depression’s heterogeneity can improve interventions across psychiatric disorders, highlighting the importance of integrating immune and metabolic factors into clinical practice.
Views and opinions expressed in these videos are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official position of ECNP. The content of these videos should not be used in any way as the basis for treatment decisions.
