[Darth Bane]

Depression's Evolutionary Roots
Two scientists suggest that depression is not a malfunction, but a mental adaptation that brings certain cognitive advantages

Depression's Evolutionary Roots: Scientific American

Depression seems to pose an evolutionary paradox. Research in the US and other countries estimates that between 30 to 50 percent of people have met current psychiatric diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder sometime in their lives. But the brain plays crucial roles in promoting survival and reproduction, so the pressures of evolution should have left our brains resistant to such high rates of malfunction. Mental disorders should generally be rare — why isn’t depression?

in most instances, depression should not be thought of as a disorder at all. In an article recently published in Psychological Review, we argue that depression is in fact an adaptation, a state of mind which brings real costs, but also brings real benefits

So what could be so useful about depression? Depressed people often think intensely about their problems. These thoughts are called ruminations; they are persistent and depressed people have difficulty thinking about anything else. Numerous studies have also shown that this thinking style is often highly analytical. They dwell on a complex problem, breaking it down into smaller components, which are considered one at a time.


This analytical style of thought, of course, can be very productive. Each component is not as difficult, so the problem becomes more tractable. Indeed, when you are faced with a difficult problem, such as a math problem, feeling depressed is often a useful response that may help you analyze and solve it. For instance, in some of our research, we have found evidence that people who get more depressed while they are working on complex problems in an intelligence test tend to score higher on the test.

Analysis requires a lot of uninterrupted thought, and depression coordinates many changes in the body to help people analyze their problems without getting distracted.

Many other symptoms of depression make sense in light of the idea that analysis must be uninterrupted. The desire for social isolation, for instance, helps the depressed person avoid situations that would require thinking about other things. Similarly, the inability to derive pleasure from sex or other activities prevents the depressed person from engaging in activities that could distract him or her from the problem. Even the loss of appetite often seen in depression could be viewed as promoting analysis because chewing and other oral activity interferes with the brain’s ability to process information.

But is there any evidence that depression is useful in analyzing complex problems? For one thing, if depressive rumination were harmful, as most clinicians and researchers assume, then bouts of depression should be slower to resolve when people are given interventions that encourage rumination, such as having them write about their strongest thoughts and feelings. However, the opposite appears to be true. Several studies have found that expressive writing promotes quicker resolution of depression, and they suggest that this is because depressed people gain insight into their problems.

There is another suggestive line of evidence. Various studies have found that people in depressed mood states are better at solving social dilemmas. Yet these would seem to have been precisely the kind of problems difficult enough to require analysis and important enough to drive the evolution of such a costly emotion.


Sometimes people are reluctant to disclose the reason for their depression because it is embarrassing or sensitive, they find it painful, they believe they must soldier on and ignore them, or they have difficulty putting their complex internal struggles into words.

But depression is nature’s way of telling you that you’ve got complex social problems that the mind is intent on solving. Therapies should try to encourage depressive rumination rather than try to stop it, and they should focus on trying to help people solve the problems that trigger their bouts of depression. (There are several effective therapies that focus on just this.) It is also essential, in instances where there is resistance to discussing ruminations, that the therapist try to identify and dismantle those barriers.

When one considers all the evidence, depression seems less like a disorder where the brain is operating in a haphazard way, or malfunctioning. Instead, depression seems more like the vertebrate eye—an intricate, highly organized piece of machinery that performs a specific function

[Darth Bane]

it is ancient article, i bet most of here have read it, even i might have read it when i was depressed but sadly i don't remember much or don't want to remember much from what i was doing in depressed state...

anyway its something positive......

[faerie_moon_x]

Long ago I read an article about how anxiety also isn't a malfunction at all, but an evelutionary response. People who are anxious are more likely to react to things that other people would ignore, thus having anxious people in your tribe is beneficial, because they are kind of like a siren. If Uhng smells smoke he will just roll over and go to sleep. But if Rohg smells smoke he will look outside in a panic and see that Uhng's tent is on fire, and then warn everyone.

I think we all have our place in this world. the only reason it's a "dysfunction" is because we don't fit into the box that society says everyone should fit into. Humans were meant for smaller tribes, and in smaller tribes we are all important with our different talents.

Venus may have touched at what you are suggesting when she used on her identity,
"who wants to be considered 'normal' in a profoundly sick society?"

There really is no such thing as normal, and I use the term rarely when I write about something.

[Darth Bane]

as i understand, by reading all those evolution things. any single of our symptom- it can be depression or hypomania or anxiety or less sleep requirement, it is extremely useful. if one has only anxiety, he can cope with it and will work hard so he will not face anxiety due to stress. and hypomania makes me really productive. if i think about it because of depression i have worked so hard to improve myself, i have basically spent every minute trying to get out of depression and for that i needed to know about myself, my brain, my health. so i learned all about it. it is like we are too evolved or blessed if you prefer than other "normal" people.

the depression has something to do with hibernation too. in winter our ancestors could not do much hunting so they needed to slow their body processes. and what way is better than stopping some functions of organ which uses most of our body energy (brain). this seasonal depression is hard for me in winter months. Another weird thing is since childhood i don't prefer much light in my room. i never liked too bright lights...

If Uhng smells smoke he will just roll over and go to sleep. But if Rohg smells smoke he will look outside in a panic and see that Uhng's tent is on fire, and then warn everyone.

interesting story dark heart x...... but if my name was Rohg i would roll over and go to sleep too... rather than stay alive one more minute with name "Rohg"

There really is no such thing as normal, and I use the term rarely when I write about something.

exactly! everyone is something special, you just need to see it.... this is actually greatest insight my current/last depression gave me.....

[cool09]

Sometimes people are reluctant to disclose the reason for their depression because it is embarrassing or sensitive, they find it painful, they believe they must soldier on and ignore them, or they have difficulty putting their complex internal struggles into words.

But depression is nature’s way of telling you that you’ve got complex social problems that the mind is intent on solving. Therapies should try to encourage depressive rumination rather than try to stop it, and they should focus on trying to help people solve the problems that trigger their bouts of depression.

A lot of times people can't describe what is happening to themselves and have very little insight into their problems. That's how I was when I started having serious difficulties around 14. And I would ruminate like crazy.

I disagree that rumination is productive for people that are having trouble functioning. Sure it may be good for some analytical people (ie Scientists) that use it for problem solving but for others it is counterproductive. I have a B.S. Engineering and ruminating never helped me one bit in college or at work. (I've been on SSDI two separate times for a total of 13 years. And I'm finished with my life as far as I'm concerned.)

There is a serious biochemical component for some depressed people and for others more of a psychological component (abused during childhood, neglect, etc.). Another problem is getting depressed about being depressed. Double whammy. (That's when suicidal rumination starts creeping in.)

as i understand, by reading all those evolution things. any single of our symptom- it can be depression or hypomania or anxiety or less sleep requirement, it is extremely useful. if one has only anxiety, he can cope with it and will work hard so he will not face anxiety due to stress. and hypomania makes me really productive.

It varies from person to person. I met a bipolar guy who owned a multi-million dollar company and he said he loved when he was manic because he would get a lot done. I don't get manic but have agitation depression (mixed mania, racing thoughts) and all that's ever done for me is completely drain me, make me dysfuncional and burn my rubber getting no place fast. (Multiple hospitalizations, over 50 useless and horrible meds in 27 yrs, full trial of ECT. Kaput. The end.)

[Darth Bane]

it is the harsh truth you are telling cool09. but sometimes it is comforting to think everything is ok or will be all right. just like you i have B.S. Engineering, and i am facing major depression for last 3 years. first 2 years were the worst. and current is my second major depressive episode i.e. lasting for more more than 2 years. you know what is the worse thing in depression- losing your mind. for last 2 years my functional IQ is less by at least 20. i haven't lost my intelligence but my brain is busy doing other work or doing nothing and doesn't have enough serotonin to motivate me. i start doing work but i lose my concentration in hour and start doing silly mistakes. and my normal intelligence is almost genius level that is when i am not depressed.

i still remember the reason i took break from work. my father had problem transferring contacts from one Nokia to another Nokia. he doesn't know how to operate mobiles,laptops etc. so he asked me to do it. and ... i screwed it up. couldn't do it, made mistakes.... and you know how easy Nokia are to operate. can you imagine what i felt then... with my genius level intellect! i went in my room and shouted inside my head as loud i could. you might know this but when one comes out of depression the memory is not as strong as before. it needs to be polished,brain needs work to achieve previous level of intelligence...

what i am saying is -harsh reality is- well if you are just going to ask what have you achieved in all these years... nobody will like to answer that... sometimes we need to pretend everything is ok even if nothing is! you are depressed about depression, i am frightened of depression... hope makes me feel better, but the fantasy works best... anything to forget reality....

[Nessa213]

Originally Posted by Darth Bane

interesting story dark heart x...... but if my name was Rohg i would roll over and go to sleep too... rather than stay alive one more minute with name "Rohg"

As a side note: In my head I kind of pronounce it like "rogue" like in the XMen and as long as you say it like that it's not so bad.

I do have agree with cool09 that in my experience, ruminating, 95% of the time does just about no good in figuring out the answers to complex problems. It just makes me more worried and anxious because typically the problems I'm ruminating over legitimately HAVE no answer. Or I have to simply wait it out... a skill I've never been very good at.