An attempt is made to provide a cohesive conceptual frame upon which may be placed the recent advances in our understanding of the psychobiology of the affective disorders. Major literature in the areas of neurophysiology, endocrinology and biochemistry is reviewed and placed within a dynamic model which draws heavily upon ideas previously put forward by Meyer and von Bertalanffy. Phenomenologic and semantic difficulties which have retarded research in the depressions are also addressed.
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