Well I think this research paper is a little too detached from the human condition to add a lot insight into what function depression may serve but is definitel

Well I think this research paper is a little too detached from the human condition to add a lot insight into what function depression may serve but is definitely illuminating in the mechanics of how it functions. Really I think depression is the part of the human poker game where you have to put your cards down, fold, or leave the game. It forces the sufferer to finally make an attempt to relate to another human being in order to continue moving forward or at least gain some insight into why things aren't working. Suicide has no definite causal relationship with depression because plenty of people do that when they are angry or even happy (so happy life is complete). Suicide will always be the absurd answer to the absurd question and there is not much worth examining in between there in my opinion. There is higher incidence with depression and intelligent people- so perhaps the function of the depressive state is actually to improve the species. I say this because if intelligent people were able to separate themselves easily from everybody else that would have happened a long time ago. I think there must be a genetic component in there for human beings whom are intelligent to actually get stuck in a rut and inadvertently help those around them. Possibly getting depressed is that mechanism because what else is more effective at getting people to talk about their lives, what they are thinking, and what's wrong with them. If they don't feel like talking and actively resist physical signs develop to the point others take notice. The uglier side of this however is that if the depression goes on long enough it hardens and becomes a psychosis or even psychopathic tendencies. First the silver and then the lead unfortunately. More studies need to be done about the group dynamics of depression instead of focusing on the individual or their direct contacts. Certain chain reactions occur in society and we are very much aware of that but psychological studies tend to ignore that certain members of any population act as a catalyst and maybe this is where the physiological inputs are derived from- the greater population as a whole.