[Depression is a XXI century challenge].

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical History

Background:

• Depression is a prominent and widely discussed psychiatric concern.
• Historical records indicate depressive states were recognized in antiquity, with mentions in ancient Egyptian and Byzantine cultural monuments.
• Byzantine literature from the fifth century described "gratuitous sorrow," aligning with current understanding of endogenous depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the historical prevalence and recognition of depressive states.
• To connect ancient descriptions of sorrow with modern psychiatric classifications.

Main Methods:

• Historical literature review.
• Analysis of ancient cultural monuments and texts.

Main Results:

• Depressive conditions have been documented for millennia.
• Early descriptions of "gratuitous sorrow" correlate with contemporary definitions of endogenous depression.

Conclusions:

• The concept of depression has ancient roots, predating modern psychiatry.
• Historical understanding of depressive states provides context for current research.