--- description: A growing number of scientists are coming to the conclusion that depression is a physical condition as much as it is to do with the mind. title: Is Depression a Physical Condition? image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Mental Health](/tag/mental-health/) ## Mental Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Depression Could Be More a Physical Than Mental Condition, Say Scientists by [Helen Regan](/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2015 9:18 AM CUT by [Helen Regan](/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2015 9:18 AM CUT A growing number of scientists are coming to the conclusion that [depression](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/04/depression-allergic-reaction-inflammation-immune-system "undefined") is at least as much a physical condition as it has to do with the mind. One explanation is inflammation, which is caused by a part of the immune system that gets called into action when the body suffers a wound, the _Guardian_ reports. A set of proteins called cytokines sets off this inflammation in the body. This process is why people tend to feel down when they fall ill. And so scientists think the brain may be tricked into feeling depressed through a process akin to an allergic reaction. Read more at the [_Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/04/depression-allergic-reaction-inflammation-immune-system "undefined") _Read next:_ [_Most Cancer Is Beyond Your Control, Breakthrough Study Finds_](http://time.com/3650194/most-cancer-is-beyond-your-control-breakthrough-study-finds/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3653296/depression-physical-mental-allergic/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3653296/depression-physical-mental-allergic/"},"headline":"Depression Could Be More a Physical Than Mental Condition, Say Scientists","datePublished":"2015-01-05T09:18:21.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T03:15:59.709Z","description":"The starting point for the theory is that everyone feels down when they are ill","url":"https://time.com/3653296/depression-physical-mental-allergic/","keywords":["Mental Health","Depression","illness","scientists","inflammation"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Helen Regan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/helen-regan/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/mental-health/","name":"Mental Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3653296/depression-physical-mental-allergic/","name":"Depression Could Be More a Physical Than Mental Condition, Say Scientists"}}]}] ```