Philosophical Contemplation Meets Psychological Diagnosis

by Jamie G.

Cross disciplinary paradigms are ways to evaluate an issue through multiple lenses at once to get a more comprehensive view of the situation. For example if you were looking at a political issue, you may want to also look at it sociologically, economically and geographically. By combining multiple bodies of knowledge and different perspectives that can be offered, the problem becomes more complicated but also more visible from all angles. In terms of psychology, many disorders are inherently tied to other paradigms such as sociology and philosophy. 

One area of cross disciplinary research that is quite fascinating is called existential depression. Existential depression can be conceptualized as a philosophical dilemma or fixation which results in a psychological problem. At the core of this disorder lies the inherent emotional weight tied to many philosophical questions (Berra, 2021) . Existential depression is thought to be similar to typical cases of depression, but the rumination that causes cyclical negative thinking is based upon questions of existence, meaning and purpose (Berra, 2021). Examples of existential questions that can cause psychological distress are… 

What is the meaning of life? 

Can I define my own meaning of life? 

Am I living up to my potential? 

Why should I trust a system or theory to tell me the meaning of life? 

Does my life have any meaning beyond myself? 

What is the purpose of my existence? 

In 1954 the term existential depression was coined by Haefner. He defined it as a condition that is not connected to psychological trauma. He explained it as a preoccupation with the meaning of life that resulted in a lack of goals and aspirations for the future (Berra, 2021) . The thought process here is that if life is inherently meaningless, what is the point in trying or having goals? If one conceptualizes their life as having no meaning, the motivation to make an impact on the world dwindles. 

Here is a definition of existential depression proposed by Berra in 2018, “a condition in which the mood is oriented in a depressive sense, and stems from particular reflections and considerations of the nature of existence.” 

Most forms of depression are thought to be genetic, psychological, or due to a person’s individual disposition. Existential depression on the other hand is thought to be free of genetic or psychological underpinnings, instead it is thought to develop due to an increased awareness of the bleak reality of the world (Berra, 2021). 

The philosophical nature of existential depression complicates possible treatments because typical medications and therapeutic interventions generally do not improve the condition (Berra, 2021). It is often grouped in with more common depressive conditions and not analyzed as a separate entity with its own risk factors, causes and symptoms (Berra, 2021) . In short, it’s difficult to distinguish sadness driven depression from existential depression, especially because existential depression isn’t often the focus of psychological research (Berra, 2021) . 

Think of how a typical teenager going through their angsty phase is often portrayed. They are deeply apathetic and constantly in distress concerning the nature of existence. These traits can often be written off as someone being moody, edgy, dark, cynical, instead of being looked at as a serious condition. 

A solution to this?

Researchers are unsure. Trust in a system, theory, or religion often offer solace from these existential preoccupations (Berra, 2021). But more often than not, these questions are avoided or denied because finding a “real” or “correct” answer seems impossible (Berra, 2021). Existential beliefs can lead people to act in radical ways. The recurring narrative that nothing matters can lead people to believe that they individually as a person dont matter either. This radicalization of existential thinking can result in suicide or turning to other forms of beleif such as religion to fill that void of an uncertain significance or purpose (Berra, 2021). If left untreated, existential depression causes extreme feelings of apathy, emptiness, suffering, dread, and other uncomfortable emotions (Berra, 2021). 

A necessary caveat to address is the duplicitous nature of existentialism. It is not inherently bad to question life’s meaning and purpose. For some people, questions like that may provide direction and motivation by provoking an in depth analysis of the world around them. 

Existentialism is in the eye of the beholder.