The problem as I see it is that depression is a complicated diagnosis with many levels. I don't think House is clinically depressed in the sense of major depressive disorder or even depressive disorder. On the other hand, I have little doubt he has some aspects of depression secondary to his disability and chronic pain. I'd be surprised if he didn't. The question is what to do about it. And I just managed to repeat myself.

I think what we saw at the end of half-wit (having just watched the dvd commentary was an acknoledgement by House that he is not happy; that "Happy" interests him and that he'd give quite a lot to taste it (again?). House and happiness--what it is; how to define it; how to find it is a them that was explored pretty much from the first episode of season 1. After House's hallucination, he decided that he wanted more out of life, and season three was about grasping at ways to get there, with many steps backward for each one forward. I dont' think House likes being miserable and sad, but I don't think he knows how to dig himself out, so he tries bizarre things like this elaborate implant scheme. so, I agree, Silja that House isnn't conventionally "depressed". And I think that his unhappiness and general state of perpetual misery has a lot to do with his leg and being in constant, severe pain. That will wear on a person, wear them down and very often make them not only miserable internally, but to strike out at everyone and everything. We've seen House's mornings when he first gets up a couple of times. Who would want to face that day in and day out with no possibility of reprieve--ever. He was right in Needle in a Haystack when he told Cuddy that he earns that space of his every day when he comes to work and does his job. Particularly and environment where nearly everyone is dismissive of his pain in one way or another.

I proposed the question but didn't gave my opinion... Sorry about that, but my RL sometimes sucks! I agree with Silja and Sasmom. I guess that if he's depressed is because the constant pain. Nevertheless, I can't really see him as a depressed person. Is this make any sense? And, just out of curiosity, doctors usually prescribe antidepressants along with pain medication, don't they? Did House never want to try those because he didn't like the side effects?

Since Wilson knew him before the infarction, I think we can take his word that House has changed, is miserable. Considering House's father seems to think House shouldn't use handicapped parking because 'he still has his leg,' I imagine he's been pretty well programmed against admitting to need antidepressants, too. From casual looking on the internet, antidepressants not only help with the 'pain - depressed - depression makes pain worse - get more depressed' cycle, their effect as serotonin inhibitors is supposed to help with phantom pain.

I was thinking about the whole pain-depression-more pain-more depression cycle too. And I know people who suffer from chronic pain who use antidepressants as well. It's the miserable thing that I have difficult accepting. House could be depressed because of his constant pain, but he doesn't "act" miserable, at least no to me. Sometimes he is more unhappy, more cranky, that's true. But miserable is too harsh. Yet, I beleive when Wilson said he had change. I'm making myself more confuse by the hour...

I think it's more likely that House has dysmythia than "true" depression. ETA: From my understanding it's considered a milder form, not as crippling but longer lasting. It's not what most people mean when they say depression.

Isn't dysthymia a form of chronic depression? When the person is always in a negative, pessimist mood? ETA: LOL! Because dysmythia isn't even a word. Probably. :wink:

It's dysthymia, not dysmythia.

I think House wants to be judged, thought of, etc. on what he is and what is within his control. He is his medical genius, his musical talent, his abrasive personality. And the easiest way to ensure people do that is to dismiss the rest -- "I don't define myself by my leg" "Don’t care. I assume his reasoning was faulty." If you refuse to let people discuss things that happened to you, they can't pity you. Cheating on the test (versus studying) was a choice House made so he was willing to dwell on it for decades. He was not shot voluntarily so he is uninterested in it (at least on the surface. I can't imagine that he doesn't think about it.)

I just noticed that in the episode where Foreman kills the young girl House tells her he's getting cataracts. Hence the glasses I presume.

Can't you get rid of cataracts... not by eating carrots or anything, but isn't there a surgery of some sort?

Yes - it quite an easy surgical procedure. My grandmother had it at a ripe old age. Maybe they just meant general deteriorating old age eyesight - or maybe this will become an exciting story line in season 7 because refuses to tell anyone until he starts bumping into the furniture.

Although unlike House's previous surgery, for cataract surgery, you're awake. My grandmother thought it was the coolest thing ever for that very reason.