A DEPRESSÃO COMO FENÔMENO ADAPTATIVO SOB A ÓTICA DA PSICOLOGIA EVOLUCIONISTA: UMA REVISÃO NARRATIVA

Abstract

The present study aims to conduct a narrative review regarding adaptive hypotheses about depression from the perspective of Evolutionary Psychology. Major Depression is the most common disorder today, potentially leading to extreme psychological suffering and suicide in severe cases, highlighting the importance of research on the subject. As research references, two books following the theoretical framework of the study are used, in addition to searches on the digital platforms Scielo, LILAC, and Pepsic. The study presents critiques from authors who adhere to the Evolutionary Psychology perspective on the Biochemical Hypothesis, discusses the evidence provided by studies on depression using animal models, and presents hypotheses regarding potential adaptive functions of the disorder. Finally, it raises the discussion about the pathologization of depression from the viewpoint of Evolutionary Psychology. It concludes that further studies are still necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of depression, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for each case.