Depressão e o processo de individuação: aspectos psicodinâmicos, pessoais, coletivos e arquetípicos da depressão psicogênica

Abstract

This work aims to build an understanding about the meaning and purpose of depression in contemporary man; considering that the man must be understood in its context, that is to say, taking into account its psychological aspects, its history of life and the culture in which it is inserted. For this, we carry out a theoretical research, with a qualitative basis, based on the constructive hermeneutic method and the Jungian theory. Through a bibliographical research and theoretical articulations, we performed a conceptualization of depression based on classical jungian theory and categorized three main types of depression: normal, neurotic and psychotic. However, such considerations would be insufficient for an adequate conceptualization of depression, and therefore a discussion about its collective, that is, sociocultural aspects, became necessary for further study. The discussions about the cure of depression performed in this study were necessary to provide certain clinical goals that can help the psychotherapist in their practice. We chose to study depression in the second half of life and its relation to the individuation process, and for this we discuss the relationship between consciousness and the unconscious in this period of life. The relationship between ego, persona, shadow and anima, are central focus of this work. The images of alchemy – starting from the alchemical phase of the nigredo – were fundamental to amplify the depression and to construct a more detailed understanding. We think it necessary to add a discussion about the problem of suicide in depression, due to the great impact and importance of this issue. The observations on this subject attempt to broaden the debate and provide parameters to the psychotherapist who deals with depressive patients with suicidal ideation in their daily clinical practice.