All roads lead to depression: Clinically homogeneous, etiologically heterogeneous

Journal/Book: J Affective Disord. 1997; 45: PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Elsevier Science BV. 97.

Abstract: Manias, and particularly depressions, are syndromes not diseases. Considerable data support the fact that depressions, though similar clinically, are of heterogenous etiologies. We can separate depressions generally into those that are endogenous/psychotic and those that occur in the context of marked emotional instability. Familial pure depressive disease is a specific example of the former, depression spectrum diseases a specific example of the latter. These are separable on the basis of personality, clinical, follow-up, familial and treatment variables.

Note: Article Winokur G, Univ Iowa, Coll Med, Dept Psychiat, Iowa City,IA 52242 USA

Keyword(s): PRIMARY UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION; FAMILIAL SUBTYPES; SPECTRUM DISEASE; MAJOR DEPRESSION; CLASSIFICATION; PERSONALITY; ALCOHOLISM; DISORDERS; VALIDITY

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