Evolutionary theories of depression: overview and perspectives

Authors

  • Andreza Conceição de Souza Tavares Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES
  • Rebeca Fernandes Ferreira Lima Universidade Salgado de Oliveira
  • Rosana Suemi Tokumaru Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200003

Keywords:

evolutionary psychology, depression, adaptation, deregulation, mental health

Abstract

Depression has reached epidemic levels worldwide. Would that be a mental disorder, as claimed by consensus on mental health? Evolutionary theorists have questioned the function of depression and proposed specific models to explain it. The aim of this paper is to present the evolutionary theories of depression, to discuss the complementarity and contradictions between these theories, and to present the social and practical implications for the treatment of depression. Those reflections and issues in the field of mental health may influence further studies from a non-pathological perspective of depression. In the field of psychology, this perspective provides insights to reevaluate psychotherapy to treat depression by focusing on causal analysis and problem solving. The study suggests that new empirical studies should be conducted to test and systematize evolutionary theories of depression.

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Author Biographies

  • Andreza Conceição de Souza Tavares, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES

    Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Vitória, ES, Brazil

  • Rebeca Fernandes Ferreira Lima, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira

    Universidade Salgado de Oliveira, Niterói, RJ, Brazil

  • Rosana Suemi Tokumaru, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES

    Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Vitória, ES, Brazil

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Published

2021-11-08

Issue

Vol. 32 (2021)

Section

Articles

License

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How to Cite

Evolutionary theories of depression: overview and perspectives. (2021). Psicologia USP, 32, e200003. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200003