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Stanford's Sapolsky On Depression in U.S. (Full Lecture)

Stanford · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Mental health & neurodiversityNeuroscience & the brainUniversity lectures & courses

What it is

Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky lectures on depression as a real biological disease. He covers its biological and psychological causes, how it differs from ordinary sadness, and ideas such as learned helplessness. He ties these together into one account.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN returns to it repeatedly as the best single introduction to understanding clinical depression.

  • 14 people recommended it
  • 12 different months
  • 7 strong recommendations
  • first 2009, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “highly recommended”

    Interesting Stanford lecture on depression.

    fjarlq, 2013-01 · Strong recommendation · in “We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness”

  2. “It's a very good lecture that goes into both the biological and psychological aspects of depression and then manages to tie them together.”

    Ties biological and psychological aspects of depression together.

    AlexandrB, 2013-01 · Strong recommendation · in “We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness”

  3. “highly recommend this video on depression from Stanford's Sapolsky”

    Explains underlying biological aspects of depression.

    maxlamb, 2017-10 · Strong recommendation · in “The Depression Thing”

  4. “This is the quintessential video for understanding clinical depression.”

    Quintessential lecture for understanding clinical depression.

    mikec3010, 2018-06 · Strong recommendation · in “What to Do When a Loved One Is Severely Depressed”

  5. “He explains what our current understanding of depression is.”

    Explains current understanding of depression.

    ronyfadel, 2019-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Psilocybin for major depression granted Breakthrough Therapy by FDA”

  6. “It's super interesting, it ties all the causes of depression together”

    Ties causes of depression from childhood to neurons together.

    shadowfaxRodeo, 2021-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Some Days I Can’t Do Life – When everyday life becomes a struggle (2020)”

  7. “Robert Sapolsky has a fantastic discussion of depression as a form of learned helplessness.”

    Depression as learned helplessness, seen in abused animals.

    tycho-newman, 2026-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Prioritize mental health, and why communication is so important”

  8. “Highly relevant lecture by a very brilliant neuroscientist”

    Relevant lecture on depression as disease.

    blhack, 2013-01 · Recommendation · in “Aaron Swartz, Asking For Help, 119 Days Ago”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: sapolsky, depression, neuroscience, learned helplessness, mental health

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