Depression, in its clinical form as major depressive disorder, is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure, accompanied by neurovegetative symptoms such as disturbed sleep, appetite, and energy, and by cognitive changes including impaired concentration and executiv…
Depression, in its clinical form as major depressive disorder, is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure, accompanied by neurovegetative symptoms such as disturbed sleep, appetite, and energy, and by cognitive changes including impaired concentration and executive dysfunction, all causing meaningful functional impairment. Its mechanisms implicate monoaminergic neurotransmission together with neuroendocrine dysregulation, set against a backdrop of genetic vulnerability and environmental stress. Depression takes distinct forms across the lifespan and across medical contexts: perinatal depression, which interacts with beliefs and expectations surrounding motherhood; late-life depression, which can be difficult to distinguish from dementia or apathy; and depression that arises within chronic and serious illness, including chronic kidney disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, and neurodegenerative conditions. Social determinants, including socioeconomic disadvantage, discrimination, violence, environmental exposures, and the availability of social support, shape both onset and course, and depression carries a serious association with suicidal ideation. Assessment relies on clinical interview and validated rating scales, and treatment combines psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, adapted to the individual and to comorbid conditions. This journal publishes peer-reviewed research in this area, including work on perinatal and late-life depression, depression complicating physical illness, and the social and environmental determinants that influence its expression and outcome.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 48 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Depression, linking to each citing work.