melankholía

Melankholía is a term that has evolved significantly throughout history, often referring to a state of profound sadness, low spirits, or a contemplative mood. In ancient Greek medicine, melancholia was considered one of the four humors, believed to be caused by an excess of black bile. This imbalance was thought to manifest in various psychological and physical symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and a tendency towards introspection.

During the Renaissance and beyond, the concept of melancholia became intertwined with artistic and intellectual pursuits. It was often portrayed as a characteristic of the genius or the sensitive soul, a source of deep thought and creativity, albeit often accompanied by suffering. Writers and artists explored its nuances, depicting it not merely as a pathology but also as a complex human experience.

In modern psychology, the term "melancholia" is less commonly used as a clinical diagnosis, having largely been replaced by terms like major depressive disorder with melancholic features. When used in this context, it specifically describes a severe form of depression characterized by a loss of pleasure in almost all activities, a distinct quality of depressed mood (often worse in the morning), early morning awakening, significant psychomotor retardation or agitation, anorexia or weight loss, and excessive guilt. It is important to distinguish this clinical meaning from the broader, more generalized sense of the word referring to a pensive or wistful mood.