Depression: From Bloodletting to Wearable Devices

Our understanding depression has changed dramatically throughout the years, and new ways to track symptoms are emerging. From bloodletting practices to wearable technologies and mobile phones, follow the evolution of perceptions of depression and its treatment. Subtitles are available in multiple languages.

[kalinatcholakova]

Hello, my name is Kalina and I am studying Organisational Psychiatry and Psychology at Kings. This is a wonderful video! How come thought efforts are not directed to prevent depression, to reduce the stressors, pollutants in our environment, to receive more support from government, local council and our community, to teach our children to be kinder and generous and helpful. Instead we re hooking ourselves up to a technological device that is also associated with many negative effects on mental health, such as reduction in concentration, anticipation and social anxiety, to tell us when we become depressed... It seems a very backward logic that doesn't make any sense in our understanding of life today and the increasing attention toward more natural ways of living.

[Dunya_World]

This is shameful Eurocentrism. We relied upon Avicenna's (980-1037) medical classifications until the 19th century and we have extant case studies of Razi (854-925) treating depression with psychotherapy and behavioural interventions. But the video skips from 'ancient' beatings and bloodletting', ignoring the learning from the Islamic world, to imply that we're now more enlightened! Perhaps future media will make videos about how depression 'used to be treated' which will include the side effects of antidepressants, including suicidal thoughts in children and teenagers. KCL must do better.