Lincoln's Melancholy

[Rob Wick]

Quote:I still think Lincoln suffered through periods of extreme sadness and melancholy, but IMO, he was not truly mentally ill or suffering from clinical depression.

Roger,

Of course, we are free to disagree and I certainly respect your opinion and your reasoning. I wonder, however, if there is a possibility of depressive episodes being followed by days, weeks, months or even years of relative stability with the underlying illness still present? I know in patients who are bipolar, symptoms are often reduced when a medicinal regimen is followed, although medicines often lose their effectiveness which makes it a difficult illness to treat. As I stated earlier, it cannot be proven conclusively, but there is far too much evidence to ignore, in my view.

Best
Rob