Summary
Brown and Harris (1978) contend that life events have causal significance for both ‘psychotic’ and ‘neurotic’ depression. This contradicts the psychiatric tradition. ‘Neurotic’ depression has been regarded as a consequence of life-stress, while ‘psychotic’ depression has been regarded as a consequence of processes intrinsic to the organism. Empirical evidence is presented to support the view that life events have a differential effect, within the general population. It is argued that Brown and Harris's (1978) conclusion follows from an inappropriate approach to classification. It is argued further that their data lend support to the traditional view. It is noted that their approach may inhibit the development of explanatory models linking life-stress, vulnerability factors and depression.
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Cooke, D.J. Life events and syndromes of depression in the general population. Soc Psychiatry 16, 181–186 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582658
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582658