Reactive and Endogenous Depressions—Response to E.C.T.

Abstract

Depressive states have long been classified by various dichotomies into reactive versus endogenous, agitated versus retarded and neurotic versus psychotic. The reactive-endogenous dichotomy is an aetiological classification, whereas the agitated-retarded and neurotic-psychotic divisions are symptomatological ones. It is generally considered that there is much correlation between these different classifications, although it is agreed that there may be some overlapping and various points of difference.