Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Does It Make Sense to Divide Depression into a Psychosocial and a Biological Type? Results from the Vienna Depression Study

  • Conference paper
From Social Class to Social Stress

  • 109 Accesses

Abstract

It was Kraepelin, who, after having put forward in 1899 his important distinction between manic depressive psychosis and dementia praecox, also introduced the distinction between a “psychogenic” and a “biological” form of depression. After moving to Munich, away from the small village of Heidelberg where he obviously had seen a different kind of psychopathology than in his new urban environment (Menninger 1963) suddenly in the seventh edition of his textbook a new vocabulary emerges: Kraepelin (1904) now uses the term “psychogenic neurosis”, and in the following edition coins the term “psychogenic depression” (Kraepelin 1909). It seems to us important to note that it was not the psychoanalysts who put the term and concept of psychogenic depression into use — as is sometimes wrongly believed — but Kraepelin, the founding father of modern psychiatric nosology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abraham K (1911) Ansätze zur psychoanalytischen Erforschung und Behandlung des manisch-depressiven Irreseins und verwandter Zustände. In: Cremerius J (ed) Psychoanalytische Studien [of K. Abraham], vol 2. Fischer, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Akiskal HS, Bitar AH, Puzantian VR, Rosenthal TL, Wlaker PW (1978) The nosological status of neurotic depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 35: 757–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akiskal HS, Rosenthal TL, Haykal RF, Lemmi RH, Scott-Strauss A (1980) Characterological depressions. Clinical and sleep EEG findings separating `subactive dysthymias’ from `character spectrum disorders’. Arch Gen Psychiatry 37: 777–783

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1980) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-III); 3rd ed

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger M, Pirke K-M, Doerr P, Krieg J-D, Zerssen D von (1984) The limited utility of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test for the diagnostic process in psychiatry. Br J Psychiatry 145: 372–382

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berner P, Katschnig H, Lenz G (1983) DSM-III in German-speaking countries. In: Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Skodol AE (eds) International perspectives on DSM-III. American Psychiatric Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GW (1974) Meaning, measurement and stress of life events. In: Dohrenwend BS, Dohrenwend BP (eds) Stressful life events: their nature and effects. Wiley, New York, pp 217–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GW, Harris T (1978) Social origins of depression. Tavistock, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GW, Ni Bhrolchain M, Harris TO (1979) Psychotic and neurotic depression. Part 3: Aetiological and background factors. J Affective Disord 1: 195–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney MWP, Roth M, Garside RF (1965) The diagnosis of depressive syndromes and the prediction of ECT response. Br J Psychiatry 111: 659–674

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland JRM (1983) Psychotic and neurotic depression: discriminant function analysis and five-year outcome. Psychol Med 13: 373–383

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland JRM (1984) Reactive and endogenous depressive illness and five-year-outcome. J Affective Disord 6: 153–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Endicott J, Spitzer RL (1979) Use of the Research Diagnostic Criteria and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia to study affective disorders. Am J Psychiatry 163: 52–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans DL, Burnett GB, Nemeroff CB (1983) The dexamethasone suppression test in the clinical setting. Am J Psychiatry 140: 586–589.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freud S (1917) Trauer und Melancholie. Ges. Werke Bd. X. Fischer, Frankfurt 1946 (Standard Edition, vol 14 )

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie RD (1929) Clinical differentiation of types of depression. Guy’s Hosp Rep 79: 306–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld RMA (1981) Situational depression: validity of the concept. Br J Psychiatry 139: 297–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoche A (1912) Die Bedeutung der Symptomenkomplexe in der Psychiatrie. Zentralblatt für die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie 12: 540–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katschnig H, Berner P (1985) The poly-diagnostic approach in psychiatric research. In: ADAMHA/WHO: Mental disorders, alcohol and drug-related problems: international perspectives on their diagnosis and classification. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 113–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Katschnig H, Brandt-Nebehay A, Fuchs-Robetin G, Seelig P, Eichberger G, Strobl R, Sint P (1981) Lebensverändemde Ereignisse, psychosoziale Disposition und depressive Verstimmungszustände. Ein Beitrag zur Frage der Entstehung und der Klassifikation der Depression. Research Report, Psychiatric Clinic, University of Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Katschnig H, Pakesch G, Egger-Zeidner E (1986a) Life events and the diagnosis of depression: an overview of concepts and research results. In: Katschnig H (ed) Life events and psychiatric disorders - controversial issues. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay DWK, Garside F, Beamish P, Roy JR (1969) Endogenous and neurotic syndromes of depression: a factor analytic study of 104 cases. Clinical features. Br J Psychiatry 115: 377–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendell RE, Gourlay J (1970) The clinical distinction between psychotic and neurotic depressions. Br J Psychiatry 117: 257–266

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kielholz P (1972) Diagnostische Voraussetzungen der Depressionsbehandlung. In: Kielholz P (ed) Depressive Zustände–Erkennung, Bewertung, Behandlung. Huber, Bern, pp 11–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Klerman GL, Endicott J, Spitzer R, Hirschfeld RMA (1979) Neurotic depression: a systematic analysis of multiple criteria and meanings. Am J Psychiatry 136: 57–61

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kraepelin E (1899, 1904, 1909) Psychiatrie, 6th ed 1899, 7th edn 1904, 8th edn 1909. Barth, Leipzig. English translation ( 1921 ). Manic depressive insanity and paranoia. Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Kupfer DJ (1976) REM latency: a psychobiological marker for primary depressive disease. Biol Psychiatry 11: 159–174

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lange J (1926) Über Melancholie. Z Ges Neur Psych 101: 293–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menninger K (1963) The vital balance. Viking, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Paykel ES (1971) Classification of depressed patients: a cluster analysis derived grouping. Br J Psychiatry 118: 275–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollitt JD (1965) Suggestions for a physiological classification of depression. Br J Psychiatry 111: 489–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider K (1932) Über Depressionszustände. Zentralbi Ges Neurol Psychiatrie 138: 584–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider K (1950) Klinische Psychopathologie. 3rd edn. Thieme, Stuttgart English translation ( 1959 ) Clinical psychopathology. Grune and Stratton, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer RL, Endicott J, Robins E (1978) Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for a selected group of functional disorders, 3rd edn. New York State Psychiatric Institute

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Praag HM, Ulleman AM, Spitz JC (1965) The vital syndrome interview. Psychiat Neurol Neurochir 68: 329–346

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman MM, Merikangas KR, Wickramaratne P, Kidd KK, Prusoff BA, Leckman JF, Pauls DL (1986) Understanding the clinical heterogeneity of major depression using family data. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43: 430–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1965) International classification of diseases, 8th revision. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing JK, Cooper JE, Sartorius N (1974) The measurement and classification of psychiatric symptoms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman M, Coryell W, Stang] D, Pfohl B (1986a) An American validation study of the Newcastle Scale. III. Course during index hospitalization and six-month prospective follow-up. Acta Psychiatr Scand 73: 412–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman M, Coryell W, Pfohl B (1986b) Melancholic subtyping: a qualitative or quantitative distinction? Am J Psychiatry 143: 98–100

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. H. Katschnig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Nouzak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf Psychiatrische und Nervenklinik, Martinistraße 52, D-2000, Hamburg 20, Federal Republic of Germany

    Matthias C. Angermeyer M.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Katschnig, H., Nouzak, A. (1987). Does It Make Sense to Divide Depression into a Psychosocial and a Biological Type? Results from the Vienna Depression Study. In: Angermeyer, M.C. (eds) From Social Class to Social Stress. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-52057-0_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-52057-0_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-52059-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-52057-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation