Phenomenological investigation of despair in depression

Psychopathology
M Bürgy

Abstract

In current psychopathological literature, the concept of despair is almost redundant. At most, the term is applied in a behavioral biological context as a synonym for helplessness and hopelessness. In light of the fact that the subjective experience of despair is neglected, the present paper adopts a phenomenological approach. The selection and hermeneutic investigation of philosophical concepts serve as tools for an initial delineation of the core structure of despair. On the basis of a growing deviation between desire and reality, target and actual status, an alternating development is initiated which increasingly constricts and leads to hopelessness and suicide. This phenomenological core structure is identified from a number of integral characteristics of depression and further developed. Despair, thus, becomes a psychopathological key term through which access can be gained to the subjective experience of the depressive individual and which can provide the basis for promoting understanding and communication as well as developing successful therapeutic interventions.

References

Feb 15, 1978·European Journal of Pharmacology·R D PorsoltM Jalfre
Mar 1, 1977·Psychological Review·A Bandura
Feb 1, 1975·Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology·M E Seligman, G Beagley
Feb 1, 1990·The American Journal of Psychiatry·A T BeckR A Steer
Dec 1, 1974·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·A T BeckL Trexler
Aug 1, 1971·Journal of Abnormal Psychology·T J D'Zurilla, M R Goldfried
Feb 1, 1967·Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology·J B Overmier, M E Seligman
Jan 1, 1995·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience·H KunugiH Kazamatsuri
Dec 1, 1993·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·B AndrewD Westbrook
Feb 1, 1993·Journal of Affective Disorders·P BoyceH Brodaty
Jan 31, 1998·Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie·M Schmidt-Degenhard
Aug 28, 2001·Brain Research. Brain Research Protocols·B Vollmayr, F A Henn
Sep 1, 1992·History of Psychiatry·G E Berrios
Dec 14, 2002·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Gerd Huber
Oct 9, 2003·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Hayden B BosworthDavid C Steffens
Dec 1, 2004·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Kanita DervicJ John Mann
May 17, 2005·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience·Klaus-Thomas KronmüllerChristoph Mundt
Sep 24, 2005·Psychopathology·Christoph Mundt
Dec 13, 2005·Brain Research. Brain Research Protocols·S ChourbajiP Gass
Apr 6, 2006·Der Nervenarzt·K-T Kronmüller, C Mundt
Dec 14, 2006·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·Kanita DervicMaria A Oquendo
Dec 14, 2006·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·Mahyar MofidiJoanne M Jordan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 16, 2011·The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry·John T MaltsbergerMark Schechter
May 16, 2013·Psychology and Psychotherapy·Joanna Gee, Del Loewenthal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.