Phenomenological Investigation of Despair in Depression

Abstract

In current psychopathological literature, the concept of despair is almost redundant. At most, the term is applied in a behavioral biological context as a synonym for helplessness and hopelessness. In light of the fact that the subjective experience of despair is neglected, the present paper adopts a phenomenological approach. The selection and hermeneutic investigation of philosophical concepts serve as tools for an initial delineation of the core structure of despair. On the basis of a growing deviation between desire and reality, target and actual status, an alternating development is initiated which increasingly constricts and leads to hopelessness and suicide. This phenomenological core structure is identified from a number of integral characteristics of depression and further developed. Despair, thus, becomes a psychopathological key term through which access can be gained to the subjective experience of the depressive individual and which can provide the basis for promoting understanding and communication as well as developing successful therapeutic interventions.

Therapeutics of despair in the prison setting

“…This is contrary to the forensic literature which defines therapeutics as associated with the treatment of states or disorders such as despair. And despite the appearance of potential areas of convergence such as the forensic literature's promotion of a focus on the 'subjective experience' of the prisoner (Towl & Forbes, 2002), inherent in the assumptions made by the forensic literature is psychotherapy as an intervention or treatment promoting positive outcome (Haley, 2010;Towl & Forbes, 2002) and potentially the management or treatment of despair (Burgy, 2008;Toch, 1992).…”

“…As a result, the forensic literature's concern with the treatment or alleviation of despair assumes a definition of despair as a state, illness or pathology (Burgy, 2008;Toch, 1992), associated with disorders such as depression and other mental health issues (Beck et al, 1974;Burgy, 2008). Therefore, within psychotherapy, the causes of despair are often explored (Haley, 2010;Wood, 2007) and coping, management strategies are developed for dealing with the cause of despair as well as the resultant despairing feelings (Adshead, 2010).…”

“…However, within the psychological and forensic literature, psychotherapy is often implicated as an appropriate treatment for patients in despair, in ensuring the patient's safety and promoting recovery from the despair (Burgy, 2008;Diamond, 2011). This approach, often taken up by the forensic literature, locates despair as an illness and a 'psychopathological' phenomenon (Burgy, 2008, p. 1), one emerging within the category of depression (Beck, Resnick, & Lettieri, 1974;Burgy, 2008) and inextricably linked to suicide (Abramson et al, 2000).…”

“…This approach, often taken up by the forensic literature, locates despair as an illness and a 'psychopathological' phenomenon (Burgy, 2008, p. 1), one emerging within the category of depression (Beck, Resnick, & Lettieri, 1974;Burgy, 2008) and inextricably linked to suicide (Abramson et al, 2000). In fact, within the prison setting, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck, 1967) is often employed as an 'assessment' of the clients' despair, most useful in the context of suicide in that it 'appears to tap some of the aspects of depression most closely associated with suicide' (Towl & Crighton, 2002).…”

Traumatic Subjective Experiences Invite Suicide

“…Desperation is clearly closely related to hopelessness, and even more closely to despair (Bürgy, 2008). Etymologically desperation comes down to us from the Latin desperare, which in fact means the surrendering of hope.…”