4 ms·

I think the researches described in the article might have over-generalized the concept of "depression" a bit... I feel what we call "depression" is actually a

I think the researches described in the article might have over-generalized the concept of "depression" a bit... I feel what we call "depression" is actually a spectrum of symptoms -- although those symptoms might have certain shared common traits (such as strong inertia and not wanting to do anything), they actually could be quite different in other aspects. For instance, when you are not doing anything, it could be that you are ruminating; or it could also be that your body and brain are simply numb, and not thinking about anything. The article says, In this view, the disordered and extreme thinking that accompanies depression, which can leave you feeling worthless and make you catastrophize your circumstances, is needed to punch through everyday positive illusions and focus you on your problems. In a study of 61 depressed subjects, 4 out of 5 reported at least one upside to their rumination, including self-insight, problem solving, and the prevention of future mistakes. Well, I don't know the structure of their sample pool...If the experiment is performed on a campus setting, like many other psychology experiments, then the conclusion actually has a bias towards a certain group of people -- although that group certainly might have its own spectrum.

arbitrage 9y ago
It's nice that you have feelings, but they're likely using the clinical definition of Major Depressive Disorder, which takes the guess work out of defining who the sample group is.
- 68c12c16 9y ago
  Yes, I remember there is a DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)... My point is that, as according to what has been written in the article, "...the disordered and extreme thinking that accompanies depression..." and "In a study of 61 depressed subjects, 4 out of 5 reported at least one upside to their rumination, including self- insight, problem solving, and the prevention of future mistakes..." it seems that the article is merely focusing on the type of depression that involves "thinking" and "rumination"...and there is a certain sub-range of the entire spectrum, of what is called "Major Depressive Disorder" as in the "academic" and "clinical" settings, that does not involve thinking or rumination -- or significantly reduced level of thinking and rumination -- then this subtype of depression is not actually covered in that study, and hence the conclusion of the study has no bearing, for that matter, on what we call "depression" as a whole, but only a subcategory of all the possible depressive symptoms ...

arbitrage 9y ago

It's nice that you have feelings, but they're likely using the clinical definition of Major Depressive Disorder, which takes the guess work out of defining who the sample group is.

68c12c16 9y ago
Yes, I remember there is a DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)... My point is that, as according to what has been written in the article, "...the disordered and extreme thinking that accompanies depression..." and "In a study of 61 depressed subjects, 4 out of 5 reported at least one upside to their rumination, including self- insight, problem solving, and the prevention of future mistakes..." it seems that the article is merely focusing on the type of depression that involves "thinking" and "rumination"...and there is a certain sub-range of the entire spectrum, of what is called "Major Depressive Disorder" as in the "academic" and "clinical" settings, that does not involve thinking or rumination -- or significantly reduced level of thinking and rumination -- then this subtype of depression is not actually covered in that study, and hence the conclusion of the study has no bearing, for that matter, on what we call "depression" as a whole, but only a subcategory of all the possible depressive symptoms ...