Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426696›Full record

ReviewBrain sciences2025

Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Functional Health Correlates of Major Depressive Disorder Subtypes: A Systematic Review.

Jen E McKeough, Christopher F Sharpley, Kirstan A Vessey, Vicki Bitsika, Rebecca J Williams, G Lorenzo Odierna, Ian D Evans

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Memory in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jen E McKeoughBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
Christopher F SharpleyBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7922-4848
Kirstan A VesseyBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1031-1964
Vicki BitsikaBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2518-6684
Rebecca J WilliamsBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
G Lorenzo OdiernaBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
Ian D EvansBrain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2231-3134

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting nearly 200 million people worldwide. While it has broad health effects, relatively little is known about how these vary across MDD 'subtypes', which reflect distinct symptom profiles. This systematic review examined the methods used to define several MDD subtypes and their associations with physical, cognitive, social, and functional health outcomes.

methodsA systematic search of PubMed was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines to identify peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2014 and 2025. The final search was conducted on 21 January 2025. Studies were included if they examined adults with MDD subtypes and reported health-related outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to heterogeneity in the subtype definitions and outcome measures.

resultsSixteen studies were included. Atypical and melancholic depression were most consistently associated with metabolic dysfunction, higher BMI, and a greater waist circumference. Melancholic depression was frequently associated with cognitive deficits, though results varied. Cognitive impairments were also observed in DSM-defined atypical depression, particularly in attention, vigilance, and social cognition. Anxious and melancholic depression may be associated with more severe social and functional impairment compared to other subtypes. However, the findings were limited by inconsistent definitions and outcome measures.

conclusionsSome subtypes, particularly atypical, melancholic, and anxious depression, are differentially associated with specific patterns of impairment, though inconsistencies limit firm conclusions. REGISTRATION: This review was retrospectively registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF): No specific funding was received.

Indexed as

depressionhealth effectsmajor depressive disordersubtypes

Identifiers

PMID40426696
PMCPMC12109850

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.