Depression’s Evolutionary Roots
January’s 2010 edition of Scientific American  has an interesting article that asks whether depression is not a malfunction but a mental adaptation that focuses the mind to better solve complex problems.
The key concepts of the article are:
The brain’s ability to enter a depressed state has been preserved throughout evolution, suggesting that depression is an adaptation
Depression promotes focused rumination about problems. People in this state of mind are better at solving complex social dilemmas
Effective therapies encourage patients to engage in rumination, allowing them to find solutions to their problems and end their depressive episode.
Link to read the complete article
Source: Scientific American
Image Credit: Stockxpert
