Can depression, anxiety and somatization be understood as appeasement displays?
BACKGROUND
No satisfactory basis in normal function characterizes major depression and its co-morbid disorders. Yet these may represent maladaptive expression of adaptive communicational states exhibited normally in many species.


METHODS
We examined the signal value of depressive and anxious mood states, fatigue syndrome and somatoform disorders and found them to resemble appeasement or submission to conspecifics (members of a same species) as studied in other animals. Moreover, applying game theory formulations of conflict resolution and the triune brain theory of MacLean supported the hypothesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct experimental evidence must still test hypotheses that emanate from the presented framework.


CONCLUSIONS
Implications for this approach include improved understanding and treatment of depression, improved research strategies, and a potential future pathogenesis-focused nosology.
Price
John S
JS
Odintune Place, Plumpton, East Sussex BN7 3AN, UK. john.price@lycosmail.com
Gardner
Russell
R
Erickson
Mark
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; D005716:Game Theory; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*