title: Sadness as a passion of the soul: a psychopathological consideration of the Cartesian concept of melancholy.
abstract: The relationship between the "passions" (emotions or feelings) and psychopathology has been a constant throughout the history of medicine. In this context, melancholy was considered a perversion of the soul (corruption of the passions). One of the most influential authors on this subject was René Descartes, who discussed it in his work The Treatise on the Passions of the Soul (1649). Descartes believed that "passions" were sensitive movements that the soul experienced due to its union with the body (res extensa). According to this theory, the soul was located in the pineal gland, where it was actively involved in overseeing the functions of the "human machine" and kept its dysfunctions under control, by circulating animal spirits. Descartes described sadness as one of "the six primitive passions of the soul", which leads to melancholy if not remedied. Cartesian theories had a great deal of influence on the way that mental pathologies were considered throughout the entire 17th century (Spinoza, Willis, Pitcairn) and during much of the 18th century (Le Cat, Tissot). From the 19th century onwards, emotional symptomatology finally began to be used in diagnostic criteria for mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid- Barcelona, Km. 33,600, Alcalá de Henares 29971, Madrid, Spain. francisco.lopez.munoz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Muñoz
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Juan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Cecilio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alamo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004644:Emotions; D006666:History of Medicine; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history; D010870:Pineal Gland; D011599:Psychopathology