In Japan, psychiatrists have noted two different types of depression, traditional/melancholic depression and ‘modern-type’ depression (MTD). Although both the modern and the traditional types of depression overlap in regard to symptoms, these are two distinct syndromes, which can lead to confusion for Japanese people.

This study aims to examine impressions of two types of depression using vignettes and clarify the differences in perceptions of the two types.

The participants, 206 Japanese undergraduates, were presented with two vignettes, one describing a patient with traditional-type depression and the other describing a patient with MTD, and then were asked to answer questions regarding their perceptions of the patient. In order to control covariates (i.e. perceived severity and dysfunction of depression), analyses of covariance with repeated measures were administered.

People generally had more negative perceptions of the patient with MTD. For example, when the protagonist was the patient with MTD, people were more likely to avoid and less motivated to support the patient. Large differences were also found in causal attribution to internal and controllable causes.

Negative impressions of the patient with MTD may be partly explained by causal attribution to internal and controllable factors.