This article reappraises how depressive states are assessed from the standpoint of understanding (Verstehen) psychopathology. Even in current clinical practice, psychiatrists de facto attempt to understand patients' mood, and whether a depressive mood is understandable or not is still significant. There is a type of depressive state impervious to psychological understanding, which has been called endogenous depression. Endogenous depression cannot be understood to be a reaction to stressors; it does not necessarily manifest after life events, and it lacks a reasonable and meaningful connection with stressors. In addition, endogenous depression accompanies incomprehensible bodily feelings. In clinical practice, however, the relationship (or lack of one) between patients' situations and depressive symptoms is complex, and therefore careful attention should be paid to this issue in treating each patient. Later in the article, some ongoing problems with the comprehensibility/incomprehensibility of depressive symptoms are addressed.
 Author's abstract