ABSTRACT:
Throughout the course of psychopathology's history, the term melancholia has been assigned various meanings. Initially, it was primarily associated with affective disorders such as fear and sadness, as well as abnormal beliefs. During Hippocrates' time, melancholia was predominantly viewed in terms of its affective component. From then until the eighteenth century, there were differing opinions among authors, with both affective disorders and abnormal beliefs being considered important aspects of melancholia. However, in the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries, particularly during Pinel's era, melancholia became exclusively synonymous with abnormal beliefs. As the nineteenth century transitioned into the twentieth century, the affective component regained prominence as the primary characteristic of melancholia. Melancholic depression is a chronic condition that is often characterized by recurring episodes. Melancholia, a syndrome with a rich historical background and unique psychopathological characteristics, is distinguished from major depression by the DSM-IV specifiers and partially outlined in the International Classification of Diseases [ICD -10th edition].