By “nihilism” is understood the affective, spontaneous, verbal negation of the existence of an object or function against reality (concrete or abstract). Occasionally it may appear anywhere. From “nihilism” there are all transitional stages to various forms of negativism. Nihilistic ideas are always depressive ideas. If found in euphoric states they are either an affective mixture with a depressive component or residue of a previous depressed state. According to the extension of the nihilistic ideas upon the world, or only one's own person, a “total,” “partial” or “elective” nihilism can be differentiated. At the beginning of a psychotic depression—no matter of what genesis, the nihilistic ideas usually concern only the patient's environment, it can be a “projected” nihilism. Later on it may extend over most anything, “general” nihilism which may be expressed