Have you ever had the flu, and along with the physical symptoms a temporary feeling of being low and fed up? Though most of us would shrug these feelings off as a result of not being able to go out with friends or play sport, they are beginning to attract some serious attention from neuroscientists and psychiatrists.
The interest stems from the similarities between these sickness symptoms and those of depression: low mood, apathy, and loss of interest in activities we previously enjoyed. Both are also associated with poor concentration, slowing of thoughts and actions, and a loss of motivation, particularly to engage socially.
When it comes to sickness, of course, the symptoms are much less severe than in depression and fortunately only last a few days. However, their remarkable similarity has led psychiatrists to ask whether depression is perhaps an unusually severe or prolonged sickness response.
