Phenomenology of depression: Contributions of Minkowski, Binswanger, Tellenbach and Tatossian

Abstract

Eugène Minkowski, Ludwig Binswanger, Hubertus Tellenbach and Arthur Tatossian are key authors in phenomenological psychopathology. Through a theoretical review of the main works of these authors, we shall discuss their contributions to the understanding of the lived depressed. Following a phenomenological-structural method, Minkowski developed a descriptive phenomenology of depression, focusing on lived time. Binswanger, focusing on temporality, searches for the genesis of the lived depressed through the operating modes of retrospection and melancholic prospection. Tellenbach presents the typus melancholicus, a concept associated with the notion of endon. Tatossian discusses the possible conditions for the lived depressed through phenomenological categories of time, body, space and the relationship with each other, developing the notion of depressiveness. We may conclude that, although these authors have different contributions, their ideas are similar as they adopt a phenomenological approach, a return to the lived experience, to understand its meanings.

Depression‐linked beliefs in older adults with depression

“…In other words, a notable characteristic resulting from this study is that, for older adults with depression, a desire to be needed by loved ones and society is a phenomenon that constitutes a strength in moderation, but which becomes a depression‐linked belief if it grows too strong. This is a belief based on the “typus melancholicus” personality characteristic of persons with depression (Bloc, Souza, & Moreira, ), as well as grounded in the diligence and concern for others traditionally emphasised by Japanese people (Doi & Bester, ). Also, the self‐stigma possessed by participants who felt that older adults were no longer needed by society shatters the self‐conception of being useful to others that they had built up from a young age, which in turn will reduce their self‐esteem and make their sorrow even stronger.…”

Disturbed Experience of Time in Depression—Evidence from Content Analysis

“…Structural psychopathology investigating MDD appositely has identified disturbances in time experience as the basis underlying the disorder and linking its symptoms, ranging from impairments in neurocognitive and psychomotor functions, over changes in affect and mood to depressive delusions (Stanghellini et al, 2017 ). The emerging syndrome has adequately been referred to as a disturbance of lived time (Fuchs, 2001 , 2013 , 2014 ; Broome, 2005 ; Kupke, 2005 ; Wyllie, 2005 ; Gallagher, 2012 ; Moskalewicz, 2015 ; Bloc et al, 2016 ; Stanghellini et al, 2016 ), the slowing down of the subjective experience of time has been conceptualized to be a part of this syndrome (Wyllie, 2005 ; Fuchs, 2013 , 2014 ; Stanghellini et al, 2017 ). The investigation of such an underlying principle or mechanism is of special significance, as current insights increasingly emphasize the importance of recognizing depressive symptoms apart from affect and mood for both diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis (Gonda et al, 2015 ).…”

Phenomenological description of PTSD through a case

“…Melancholic depression and Mania have very well described temporal structure manifestations (Binswanger, 1964;Bloc et al, 2016;Sass & Pienkos, 2013a). In melancholy, two temporal disturbances are evident: temporal flow reduction and hypertrophied past (Fuchs, 2001;Straus, 1960).…”