No abstract

Spontaneous motor activity measured by actigraphy and subjectively experienced intensity of symptoms were investigated in 16 unipolar depressed inpa-tients with melancholic features. Patients felt significantly less active, awake, and more depressed in the morning compared to the evening. However, morning activity levels appeared significantly higher compared to evening levels. Diurnal variations of symptoms were reflected by actigraphically measured motor activity, which was negatively correlated with subjectively experienced symptom intensity. Increased motor activity may represent an observable, psychobiological, behavioral equivalent of self-experienced depressive symptoms in major depression with melancholic features.

Intensity of symptoms including mood and psychomotor activity has been shown to vary according to the time of the day in a group of depressed patients. This pattern represents one diagnostic criterion for the melancholic type of depression. The variation of intensity is experienced by the patient and can be observed as a behavioral symptom. However, the relation of circadian alterations in psychomotor activity and depressed mood remains unclear. Therefore, spontaneous motor activity and experienced intensity of symptoms were measured in 21 depressed patients who showed daily variations of subjective symptoms. Patients felt significantly less active, awake, and more depressed in the morning compared to the evening. However, corresponding activity levels, which were measured by actigraphy, appeared significantly higher in the morning compared to the evening. Increased motor activity could represent the observable behavioral equivalent of self-experienced psychomotor retardation and depressed mood.