Not a metaphysical affliction

Natalie Angier reviews Peter Kramer's new book, Against Depression.

Kramer wrote ''Against Depression'' to dispel what he sees as the lingering charisma of the disease. And yes, people talk about it now as a biological disease rather than a moral or spiritual failing. The stigma of mental illness has mainly faded, and antidepressants are among the most widely prescribed of all medications. Nevertheless, in the dozen years since the publication of ''Listening to Prozac,'' Kramer has seen plenty of resistance to the idea that depression, like cancer, AIDS or malaria, is a disease without redeeming value, best annihilated entirely. He has read stacks of depression memoirs, and though most have parroted the party line that depression is a disease like any other, ''hints of pride almost invariably showed through, as if affliction with depression might after all be more enriching than, say . . . kidney failure.'' The writers couldn't help conveying the message: ''Depression gave me my soul.''