[How to cope with the bad reputation of depression]

Today, the term depression has lost its meaning. Recent scientific data suggests a change in our classifications of mental disorders. Depression is frequently used to refer to "normal" sadness, anxiety disorders, personality disorders or adjustment disorders... Moreover, in our society, this diagnosis remains badly accepted. It is really time to be aware of the deterioration of the image of psychiatry, and particularly the bad image of depression and its treatment with antidepressants. This paper is a reflexion inviting general practicioners and psychiatrists to progressively avoid the term depression and rather use the diagnosis of unipolar mood disorder, a broader concept, more adapted to new scientific data, less stigmatizing, and closer to the evolution of our society.