Five affective comorbidities evolved from primeval altruistic instincts
Melancholic depression5
Melancholic depression is often triggered by serious illness, group exclusion, pronounced loss, or purposelessness. We hear patients talk painfully about illness, guilt, and death. Indeed, some increased risk of death, especially from infectious disease, may result from hypercortisolemia (documented by the dexamethasone suppression test). Hypercortisolemic death also occurs in salmon after spawning, and in male marsupial mice after mating. The tragic passing of an individual saves scarce resources for the remainder of the herd.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder5
Factor-analytic studies suggest 4 main obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) subtypes: cleanliness, hoarding, intrusive thoughts, and organizing. Obsessive-compulsive traits can help maintain a safe and efficient environment in humans and other species, but OCD is dysfunctional.
Panic anxiety5
Panic anxiety is triggered by real, symbolic, or emotional separation from home and family. In toddlers, separation anxiety can reduce the odds of getting lost and hurt.
Social anxiety5
Social anxiety includes fear of self-embarrassment, exposure as a pretender to higher social rank, and thus often a reluctant avoidance of increased social rank. While consciousness and cultural encouragement can overcome that hesitation and thus lead to greater success, social anxiety activation can still cause painful anxiety. The social hierarchies of many species include comparable biological influences, and help preserve group DNA by reducing hierarchical infighting.
Atypical depression and bipolar I mania5
Atypical depression includes increased rejection sensitivity, resulting in inoffensive behavior to avoid social rejection. This reduces risk of isolation from the group, and improves group harmony. Unlike the 4 other syndromes, atypical depression and bipolar I mania may reflect 2 separate seasonal mood phases. Atypical depression (including seasonal affective disorder) often worsens with shortened winter daylight hours, akin to hibernation. Initial bipolar I mania is more common with springtime daylight, with symptoms not unlike exaggerated hibernation awakening.9
Primeval biological altruism has great evolutionary value in many species, and even somewhat in modern humans. But it is quite different from modern rational altruism. Although we sometimes override our instincts, they respond with messages experienced as emotional pain—they still tell us to follow instructions for primeval herd survival. In an earlier book, I (JPK) provide a lengthier description of the evidence for this evolutionary psychopathology theory, including interplay of the 5 instincts with psychotogenic factors.5
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