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In his comprehensive and well-researched book, Paolo Azzone takes a historical look at depression. He starts by reviewing the Ancient Greeks and the philosophy of the Hellenistic and Roman imperial periods. Of interest to academics and historians will be the relevant historical documents that Azzone selects to build his book's premises. His quotations from these documents often appear in the document's language of origin, including German, Greek, and Latin, as well as in English. By examining the philosophy, literature, and medical history of earlier times, Azzone seeks to secure a comprehensive understanding of depression.
Azzone sees depression as one expression of what he calls “socially shared representations of pain” (p. 49). He also includes the human experiences of sadness, sin, and error, as well as ancient concepts such as black bile, in considering depression. He draws on many cultural, historical, and religious influences that he posits have contributed to our contemporary overall understanding of depression. I can well imagine that most clinicians will find themselves agreeing with Azzone's conclusions. Historians, philosophers, and other scholars will also likely appreciate the author's interdisciplinary approach.
Early on, Azzone makes what many will consider an astonishing claim, as follows.