We sought to answer the following questions: Does a relationship exist between trauma and DSM-IV-defined atypical depression? Do rates of trauma differ before and after onset of depression? and Are any individual atypical features associated with trauma? We hypothesized that atypical depression patients would report more lifetime traumatic experiences than nonatypical depression patients. We also predicted that certain characteristic features of atypical depression, particularly mood reactivity and rejection sensitivity, might mediate the relationship between reported trauma and atypical depression, perhaps by making individuals more sensitive to negative events.