"All depression is usually related to someextent, if it isn't purely chemical, to aperceived loss of what someone values," Catlinsays. "Thus depression may follow the loss of arelationship, loved one, values, even one'sself-esteem."

According to Catlin, depression among studentsmay result from an inability to find replacementsin college for previously important elements ofone's life, such as family, friends and hobbies.

The sophomore English concentrator says herloss of faith in religion last year may havecontributed to her condition. "I felt thateverything was kind of hollow if there's no divinebeing," she says.

Dr. Anthony J. Rothschild, associate professorof psychiatry at the Medical School, says thatentering first-years may find college particularlystressful if they are unable to form new types ofsupport systems.

A realization that one has not lived up toexpectations may also lead to depression. Thesophomore says that she found trying to choose aconcentration especially difficult. "It was likeeveryone else in the world had everything set andI was just drifting along," she says.

Another source of depression, especially atHarvard, may be judging one's sense of worth on aspecific ability or talent, Catlin says.

"People may fall short here because they findother people who do the same thing as them andoften better," he says.

While coming to Harvard can be a humblingexperience, it can also threaten the confidenceand self-esteem that students possessed in theirold environment, Rothschild says.

Subsequently, UHS attempts to treat depressionby broadening the base of a patient's self-esteem.

The UHS staff uses three major techniques totreat depression: psychodynamic therapy, an inightbased approach; inter-personal therapy, whichfocuses on personal relationships; andcognitive-behavioral therapy, which attempts tochange negative thinking and behavior.

Short-term psychotherapy is usually highlyeffective in treating Harvard students, since mostdepressed undergraduates come to UHS because ofspecific events in their lives, Catlin says.

"What we do in psychotherapy is help peoplelook at what their loss may be, how it changedtheir life and how to compensate in a way thatdoes not make them feel guilty," says Catlin.

An Illness, Not a Weakness

Hyman and most other mental health expertsinsist that depression is a brain disease ratherthan a sign of personal or moral weakness.

According to Rothschild, all people will sinkinto depression given enough stress, some justmore readily than others. "After a while, abiological process kicks in, and after that itdoesn't matter if you remove the stressfulsituation," he says.