Vegetative symptoms of Depression

  • Vegetative functions of the body include the processes like ingestion, digestion, excretion and sleep which are necessary for the basic functioning of the body.
  • In cases of depression, these processes are impaired

What are the vegetative symptoms of Depression?

  • Vegetative symptoms of depression are disorders of basic biological functions seen in individuals with depression.
  • They include:
    • Loss of appetite and weight loss
    • Change in bowel habits – Depression is associated with constipation
    • Change in sleep pattern (insomnia) – Individuals complain of difficulty in falling asleep and waking up early in the morning
  • To be considered as a vegetative symptom of depression, they should not be attributable to any other physical / mental disorder
  • It is very important to rule out other causes as these vegetative symptoms may be an indicator of serious medical or surgical illness

Reversed vegetative symptoms of Depression

  • In some individuals, the symptoms described above are experienced in reverse.
    • Increased appetite and weight gain
    • Hypersomnia (increased sleep)
  • These features are seen in atypical depression

Journal references:

 Benazzi F (December 2002). “Can only reversed vegetative symptoms define atypical depression?”. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neur