Depression: What (if anything) is it and what are its evolutionary origins

Keynote lecture by Prof. Daniel Nettle
Given as part of the 3rd International Symposium of the Evolutionary Psychiatry Special Interest Group on March 22nd 2019 at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
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[@Knight766]

This is incredible insight. I'm extremely grateful, Nettle's knowledge and eloquence are a marvel

[@flipp081]

Nettle is brilliant as usual.

[@amanr6346]

Outstanding!

[@kaufmadc]

Awesome lecture, but a thought on the assertion that depression can have an evolutionary basis only if it is adaptative. It seems correct to say that presently depression is not adaptative (though this may be difficult to fully describe). However, we have little idea how it might have served in a hunter-gatherer context, which is almost certainly the timeframe that it would have arisen. I suspect the sxs of modern day depression were expressed in that context and addressed (primarily socially) before becoming "depression." A tribe could not afford to have a member become debilitated for an extended period of time versus modern society does this constantly.

[@HappyMomma412]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🌎💜🌈

[@anothercomment3451]

Better question: Why is usa the world leader in medicated and depressed citizens?
(statistically speaking)

[@timknight68]

Group fitness in closed communities with shared disorder. IE: Alcoholics Anonymous groups.