ABSTRACT
Our conceptualization and empirical understanding of the spectrum of depression has changed radically in recent years. This transition has been facilitated by refinements in our diagnostic nosology, data acquired from large-scale epidemiological surveys, longitudinal studies of the natural course of major depression, and the development of effective yet less ‘‘toxic’’ treatments for mood disorders. There is general consensus that people do present with and actually suffer from debilitating, persistent symptoms that fall short of our current clinical definitions of major depression and dysthymia. One of the major conceptual challenges we face is determining the relationship between these ‘‘less than major’’ forms of depression and our currently accepted construct of major depression. We will summarize existing evidence investigating this relationship in this chapter.
