Stuck in a rut: Rethinking depression and its treatment

Paul E. Holtzheimer, Helen S. Mayberg

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

338 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current definition of major depressive disorder (MDD) emerged from efforts to create reliable diagnostic criteria for clinical and research use. However, despite decades of research, the neurobiology of MDD is largely unknown, and treatments are no more effective today than they were 50-70 years ago. Here, we propose that the current conception of depression is misguiding basic and clinical research. Redefinition is necessary and could include a focus on a more narrowly defined set of core symptoms. However, we conclude that depression is better defined as the tendency to enter into, and inability to disengage from, a negative mood state rather than the mood state per se. We also discuss the implications of this revised definition for future clinical and basic research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalTrends in Neurosciences
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

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