Perceptions of traditional and modern types of depression: A cross-cultural vignette survey comparing Japanese and American undergraduate students.

Aim: Depression is a heterogeneous disorder that has various subtypes. In Japan, however, a prevailing misunderstanding is that the term utsu-byo (clinical depression) indicates only the melancholic type. Consequently, a subtype called 'modern-type depression' (MTD), which has contrasting features to those of melancholic or traditional-type depression (TTD), is severely stigmatized in Japan these days.

[Development of the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self Scale: The measurement of a psychological characteristic related to “Modern-type Depression”].

We developed the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self Scale (IPS) to measure personality traits related to “modern-type depression,” and assessed its validity and reliability through three surveys completed by 804 undergraduates. Factors for validity were examined by confirmatory factor analysis. As predicted, the scale comprised two superordinate factors: interpersonal sensitivity (IS) and privileged self (PS).

A comparison of perceptions of 'modern-type' and melancholic depression in Japan.

Background: In Japan, psychiatrists have noted two different types of depression, traditional/melancholic depression and 'modern-type' depression (MTD). Although both the modern and the traditional types of depression overlap in regard to symptoms, these are two distinct syndromes, which can lead to confusion for Japanese people.

Aims: This study aims to examine impressions of two types of depression using vignettes and clarify the differences in perceptions of the two types.