Simultaneous depression

Five different strategies were used to detect cases in which depressed behaviour occurred in both spouses within the same time period (simultaneous depression). Among 7068 references on depression in the literature, only one referred to a case of simultaneous depression. Of 8008 registered individuals hospitalized in Norway from 1961-1971, none had simultaneous depression. A search of the total Scandinavian population (17.5 million) revealed only one case. The authors suggest that the result is caused by specific communication values attached to depressed behaviour and compensatory mechanisms in depressed couple relationships. The need for assessments that include the identified patient's family system in the planning of treatment for depression is discussed, with the aim to prevent cases of successful mistreatment in which the identified patient is cured while the spouse becomes depressed or commits suicide.