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The malaise theory of depression: major depressive disorder is sickness behavior and antidepressants are analgesic

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Bruce Charlton

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Abstract

The malaise theory of depression constitutes a re-conceptualization and re-definition of major depressive disorder (MDD). It is proposed that the state or emotion of malaise should be considered the core symptom of depression, rather than sadness of mood. The syndrome of MDD is identified as a consequence of inappropriate sickness behavior mediated by immune activation including abnormalities in cytokines. Antidepressants are suggested to exert their specifically beneficial effects through an analgesic effect on the core dysphoric symptoms of malaise. These ideas are consistent with a substantial body of published literature and lead to a wide range of testable predictions. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Charlton BG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Medical Hypotheses

Year: 2000

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 126-130

ISSN (print): 0306-9877

ISSN (electronic): 1532-2777

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/mehy.1999.0986

DOI: 10.1054/mehy.1999.0986

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