Disturbances of vital feelings in depressive disorders

The concept of "vital depression" as a disturbance of the vital feelings (K. Schneider) has recently been considered. While a vital-depressive syndrome is now widespread in currently valid classification systems, its contribution toward discrimination of depressive disorders and prediction of successful antidepressive pharmacotherapy is questionable. The psychological presuppositions of vital feelings are outlined with reference to Scheler's subdivision of emotional life into layers. Means of psychopathological access to the vital feelings are presented, based on the examples of "vital sadness" and "vital anxiety" in depressive disorders.