Hello, my name is Merisa Okic, a student of Medical Anthropology at the University of Kansas. I’m writing to you to ask you some questions on the topic of depression, and how this condition, disease, disorder, or whatever you’d like to classify it as, is viewed by the medical community. While this email is born both out of curiosity and fascination with the clinical diagnosis of depression, it is also born out of the requirements of an assignment. Yes, I’m emailing you to gather information for a paper. Am I looking for a definition from webmd? No, I’m interested in your professional opinion (as well as your personal opinion) on clinical depression, what it is, what it means, and how it can (and if it can) be cured. Your answers will be cited in a research paper comparing your answers with that of someone with a spiritual, non-biomedical viewpoint on this topic, not in an effort to prove whose answers are “better” but merely to examine differences. If you choose to respond, your answers will be greatly appreciated.

1.     What is depression?
2.     What are the symptoms of depression?
3.     What causes depression?
4.     Is there a “cure” or way to treat the symptoms of depression?
5.     Is depression on the rise/fall? Is it over-diagnosed/under-diagnosed?
6.     In your opinion, is depression more a biological, psychological, or social condition/disorder?
7.     What do you want people to know about depression? Any last words?

If you have anything to add, please feel free. Again, thank you for responding, if you choose to do so.

Sincerely,

Merisa Okic
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