Agitated depression is a clinical condition in which a person has Major Depressive Disorder, but it notably restless, constantly active, or extremely irritable.
People sometimes say that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it is probably a duck, However, most people think of clinical depression as involving sadness and a slowing down of activity. “I just can’t get going…” Or, ” I have trouble getting out of bed.” Therefore, an agitated depression involving quick and constant flashes of irritability and near constant restlessness can look more like anxiety or mania than garden-variety depression.
The point here is that depression is a mood disorder that can morph into many different forms, agitated depression among them. It can be a duck that barks or a dog that quacks. This highlights the need for careful, thorough diagnosis so that the steps for change can be right on target.