Definition
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by either depressed mood or loss of interest nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. Five or more of the following symptoms must also co-occur for a diagnosis to be made: significant weight loss or weight gain; insomnia or hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation or retardation; fatigue or loss of pleasure; feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; diminished ability to think and concentrate, indecisiveness; and recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal ideation (American Psychiatric Association 2013).
Introduction
Why are melancholic states of mind so common? Most people have the capacity to experience sadness, for example, after experiences of loss. Nonhuman mammals portray sadness-like behavior, suggesting low mood has a long evolutionary history. Further, depression is also a diagnosable disorder with remarkable...
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Kleppestø, T.H., Kennair, L.E.O., Jørgensen, B.E.G., Borgan, K., Larsen, S.M. (2021). Depression. In: Shackelford, T.K., Weekes-Shackelford, V.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_689
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