From a transactional developmental perspective. the authors review findings
from studies of animals and humans regarding a proposed relation between s
tress system abnormalities and major depression. The stress system has evol
ved to promote successful adaptation across the life span, but disruptions
in its functioning may increase the risk of pathological outcomes. Emphasis
is placed on the role of prenatal and early postnatal experience in contri
buting to individual differences in postnatal stress reactivity, which may
interact with cognitive and psychosocial vulnerabilities to increase suscep
tibility to later onset of depression. Findings regarding cognitive, psycho
social, and medical sequelae of depression are also reviewed, with a focus
on the possible mediating role of the stress system. The authors highlight
the importance of multidisciplinary. longitudinal studies in attempting to
gain a deeper understanding of the complex developmental processes involved
in the onset and course of depression.