CWN reports (subscription required) that the Pontifical Council for Health Care is conducting a conference on clinical depression today through November 15, and quotes the Council's president:
Cardinal [Javier] Lozano Barragan said that depression may result from an intense fear of death, which finds no relief in a culture that has lost spiritual moorings. The Mexican prelate said that the Vatican seminar would focus particularly on the spiritual dimensions of the problem.That seems a strange comment to me; I hope the cardinal didn't mean it as a speculation about fear of death as a general cause of depression. I'm not a physician, but my impression is that there is ample evidence that genetic factors play a major role in this disease. Besides, I'd expect intense fear of death to be considered an effect of depression.
Any shrinks out there want to sort this out?
Update: ZENIT reports on the first day of talks.
I suppose it would fair to say that the spiritual truths the Church presents to man -- in particular, the message of hope and God's love in the Gospel -- could be considered as helping a patient's "cognitive therapy" -- correcting the overly negative and self-critical thinking habits often experienced by depressed persons.
Yeah, fear of death is why so many depressed people either commit suicide or are tempted to do so. Yeah riiiiight.
Perhaps the good Cardinal is referring to the fear of death and the depression caused by a terminal diagnosis. I can't read the article to tell, but people not prone to depression often fall in to it after they realize that their life is about to end because, as the blurb here states, the indvidiual finds it hard to celebrate death as a progression in to the Kingdom of God, as a result of the "lost spiritual moorings" of culture.
I don't doubt that many people are biologically/genetically clinically depressed. But I think there are many people in our society who are medically "normal" but who feel depressed (even to the point of needing medication) because of spiritual malaise. Or a complete lack of authentic (God-centered, vertical as well as horizontal) spirituality. Prescribing drugs for these people will make them feel better, but what they are really "depressed" about is the non-existence of God and the consequential futility of life -- and, yes, the terror of death. Death is truly terrifying without God.
I speak from personal experience - as a lapsed Catholic, I suffered from this type of depression, and I became increasingly miserable over the years. I was never treated for depression, but I had a lot of symptoms (excessive eating and drinking, withdrawal, etc.). But as soon as I reconverted, my "depression" simply evaporated. (Obviously, I didn't have a genetic problem.)
For support of the Cardinal's position, please see Exhibit A - Fulton Sheen's book "Peace of Soul." His position is that the majority of "psychological disorders" are attributable to the spiritual void created by modernity. In other words, humans need God, and when we deny him, many of us become depressed. This depression is not imaginary or psychosomatic -- it is the real thing. But God, not therapy or drugs, is the cure, and most shrinks/counselors aren't gonna tell you that because they don't know.
Exhibit B - Fr. Groeschel's EWTN series(es) on "Seek Ye First" and "Hope," where he makes many of the same points. Fr. Groeschel has a psychology degree.
Abp. Sheen also acknowledges that many people have genuine medical problems that cause their depression or other psychological problems. He agrees that grace will not necessarily resolve "real" depression in this life. For those people, mental illness is a cross.
But, for the rest of us, our troubled souls are just acknowledging that, without God, life is both meaningless and bad. Everyone and everything is ultimately disappointing, and it ends with a terrifying event that results in our non-existence and the corruption of our bodies. (aka "Life sucks, and then you die") Belief in God is what gives it all a purpose and restores the things of this world to their proper (subordinate) place.
I think that's what the Cardinal is getting at, and I look forward to hearing more about his conference.
I'd be interested to see how Greg Popcak would weigh in on this issue.
Speaking as one who has biochemical (genetic) issues with mood disorders - I find that depression worsens when I am not right with God. Being in a state of grace does not lift the depression, but it makes it more tolerable. Suicidal thoughts I can often banish by recognition that they are whispers in my ear from the Enemy of souls and Father of lies.
The Sacraments provide something that no amount of antidepressants or therapy can - but not everyone who prays for healing is healed. As you said, it is a cross to bear or a thorn in the side.