Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 72, Issue 1 , Pages 1-14 , October 2002

Toward a revised evolutionary adaptationist analysis of depression: the social navigation hypothesis

  • Paul J Watson

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding authors. Tel.: +1-505-277-2515 (P.J.W.); +1-505-277-9164 (P.W.A.). The authors contributed equally to the manuscript
  • ,
  • Paul W Andrews

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding authors. Tel.: +1-505-277-2515 (P.J.W.); +1-505-277-9164 (P.W.A.). The authors contributed equally to the manuscript

Received 13 April 2001 ,Accepted 29 October 2001.

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PII: S0165-0327(01)00459-1

Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 72, Issue 1 , Pages 1-14 , October 2002