Is everyone depressed?

Abstract

The authors collected a large number of research interviews with relatives of patients from a psychiatric research clinic. Half of these patients were clinically depressed; their relatives as well as the rest of the relatives interviewed were therefore at high risk for depression. However, few of the relatives reported memorable dysphoria or any clustered episodes of other affective symptoms. The authors conclude from these data that, contrary to the opinions expressed by some, not everyone has episodes of depression. Everybody is not depressed.