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Cited by 92Stress Responses and CortisolEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Depression and stress: a biopsychosocial exploration of evolved functions and mechanisms

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Gilbert, Paul·2001·Stress
DOI 10.3109/10253890109115726
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Abstract

Depression is a common and debilitating disorder linked to social adversity and stress. There have been many theories suggesting possible evolved functions of depression but few have explored evolved defensive mechanisms for coping with stressful events and how these maybe compromised in human depression. This paper will review some of the current evolutionary theories of depression and explore how major depression can arise when evolved defences to cope with adversity (e.g., fight, flight, disengage, submit and help-seeking) are aroused but blocked, arrested or ineffective. Psychosocial stressors can be seen as both activating,but also as arresting, evolved stress-coping defences leading to chronic states of stress with physiological effects on mood. This paper is set in the context of an evolution informed biopsychosocial approach.

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  • The PFC can potentiate vulnerability to depression by underwriting the formation of distal goals that, when frustrated by rejection or failure, can lead to depression by suppressing the brain's reward system and the confidence in (or precision of) beliefs about behaviour, thereby inhibiting goal-directed behaviours.

    “Neurodevelopmentally, the PFC can also potentiate vulnerability to depression by underwriting the formation of distal goals that, when frustrated by rejection or failure, can lead to depression by suppressing the brain's reward system [58] and the confidence in (or precision of) our beliefs about behaviour [59], thereby inhibiting goal-directed behaviours.”

    From The depressed brain: an evolutionary systems theory (2017) · cites this paper as [58]

  • Depression can be interpreted as a maladaptive pattern of dysregulated defences: if the depressive response is effective, an individual escapes or avoids the social stressor or adapts to it; if the defence fails, the individual is at risk of entering a self-perpetuating dysregulated state beyond the normal range of adaptive functioning.

    “Here, depressed can be interpreted as a maladaptive pattern of dysregulated defencesif this depressive response is effective, an individual either escapes or avoids the social stressor or adapts to it; if the defence fails, the individual is at risk of entering a self-perpetuating dysregulated state, which falls beyond the normal range of adaptive functioning (Allen & Badcock, 2003;Gilbert, 2001).”

    From The depressed brain: an evolutionary systems theory (2017) · cites this paper as Gilbert, 2001

  • Development of the prefrontal cortex enhances control over emotional processes.

    “Moreover, prefrontal cortical development leads, on the one hand, to improved regulation of affective processes, but on the other, heightens sensitivity to the nuance and complexity of interpersonal relationships [58].”

    From The depressed brain: an evolutionary systems theory (2017) · cites this paper as [58]

  • Prefrontal maturation also makes individuals more attuned to subtle and complex social relationships.

    “Moreover, prefrontal cortical development leads, on the one hand, to improved regulation of affective processes, but on the other, heightens sensitivity to the nuance and complexity of interpersonal relationships [58].”

    From The depressed brain: an evolutionary systems theory (2017) · cites this paper as [58]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 12

  1. Beckham, E.E and Leber, W.R. (1995). Handbook of Depression: Second Edition (New York Guilford).
  2. Gilbert, P. (1998) What is shame? Some core issues and controver- sies. In Gilbert, P. and Andrews, B. (eds.), Shame: lnterper- sonal Behaviol; Psychopathology and Culture (New York: Oxford University Press), pp. 3-38.
  3. Gilbert, P. (2000b) Counselling For Depression: Second Edition (London: Sage).
  4. Gilbert, P. and McGuire, M. (1998) Shame, social roles and status: The psychobiological continuum from monkey to human. In Gilbert, P. and Andrews, B. (eds.), Shame: Interpersonal Behaviol; Psychopathology and Culture (New York Oxford University Press), pp. 99-125.
  5. Kaelber, C.T., Moul, D.E. and Farmer, M.E. (1995) Epidimiology of Depression. In Beckham, E.E. and Leber, W.R. (eds.). Handbook of Depression: Second Edition (New York: Guil- ford), pp. 3-35.
  6. Klinger, E. (1993) Loss of interest. In Costello, C.G. (ed.), Symp- toms of Depression. (New York J. Wiley), pp. 4342.
  7. MacLean, P.D. (1990) The Triune Brian in Evolution (New York Plenum Press).
  8. Marks, I.M. (1987) Fears, Phobias, and Rituals: Panic, Anxiety and their Disorders (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
  9. McGuire, M.T. and Troisi, A. (1998) Darwinian Psychiatry (New York Oxford University Press).
  10. Selye, H. (1976) The Stress of Life: Revised Edition (New York McGraw-Hill).
  11. Swallow, S.R. (2000) A cognitive behavioural perspective on the involuntary defeat strategy. In Sloman, L. and Gilbert, P. (eds.), Subordination and Defeat: An Evolutionary Approach to Mood Disorders and Their Therapy (Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Ass.), pp. 181-198.
  12. Willner, P. (1993) Anhedonia. In C.G. Costello (ed.), Symptoms of Depression (New York John Wiley and Sons Inc.), pp. 63-84.

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Authors
Gilbert, P.
Corresponding author
Gilbert, Paul
ORCID
Gilbert, Paul
Venue
Stress
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2001-01
Volume
4
Issue
2
Pages
121-135
ISSN
  • 1025-3890 (ISSN-L)
  • 1607-8888
DOI
10.3109/10253890109115726
OpenAlex
W2126318418
Cited by
92
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
FWCI
1.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Stress (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
depression, stress coping, fight-or-flight response, disengagement, submission, help-seeking, chronic stress, psychosocial stressors, biopsychosocial model, mood regulation
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Affect, Depression, Humans, Prognosis, Social Behavior, Stress, Psychological

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